Dear Editor,

As a local business owner here in Morristown, I am struggling to understand why the CHS offer to purchase MHHS was not fully considered by the Morristown-Hamblen Hospital System Board of Directors.  Along with the nation, our community is struggling to make ends meet and we have an opportunity to improve our financial situation.

Having learned of some of the financial incentives that come along with the CHS proposal with those who have had the opportunity to see the proposal, I am convinced that MHHS Board members have made a detrimental mistake.  Unlike the current offer being considered by the MHHS Board, the CHS offer provides significant financial investment in Morristown and Hamblen County in taxes alone.

CHS estimates the combined system would pay $800,000 to $1 million per year MORE in local taxes. Everyone knows how tight government budgets are these days. These extra dollars benefit us all.  Those are new dollars that we won’t get elsewhere – no other bidder on MHHS will pay these taxes.

Our community cannot AFFORD to ignore this deal. The Directors should give them the opportunity to make their case.

Sincerely,
Bill Andrews
Andrews Construction 

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Dear Editor,

Which CHS is Best?

Recently, I was made aware Morristown Hamblen Hospital has received two offers of purchase from two entities which include CHS (Community Health Systems – Lakeway Regional Hospital’s owner) and CHS (Covenant Health Systems).  To me the BEST choice is the Community Health Systems offer because it will generate additional tax revenue in the community and guarantee an interest in this community.  CHS – LRH has a current interest in the community and has been in this community for 16 years providing high-quality patient care.  Over this time, LRH has paid tax revenue and provided employment for many in the community.
 
On the other hand, I feel that Covenant would take revenue and services out of the community, sending patients to Knoxville or other surrounding areas for care.  This would hurt the economy and effect employment and patients would have to travel for needed care.   As a non-profit facility, Covenant would not be required to pay state and local taxes, which help fund needed services in this community.

So which CHS is BEST for the Community?  (Community Health Systems – Lakeway Regional Hospital)

Joy Parker

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Dear Editor,

I would like to see the same open honesty from MHHS concerning their agreement with Covenant Health System as I have seen from the proposal that Community Health Systems has made to them.  We have been given all the details of the CHS proposal and we can fully see what this would mean to our community, but for those who will make the final decision all the information from both hospitals is needed. 

As a long time citizen of Hamblen County I have great concerns as to the future of this community and what this will mean to our children and future generations.  This is a time of financial difficulty for us as individuals and also for our community. 

The most important issue now is the patient care that all of us will receive in years to come, but let’s not overlook the benefit that the taxes from CHS would give to our community.  Think of what $800,000 to a million dollars could do for this community each year. 

I would like to see a Community Center and more money for our schools along with other benefits that this would provide.  Smaller communities around us such as Hancock, Grainger, and Jefferson have Community Centers, but our Community cannot afford one.  Something is wrong here.  Where are all our tax dollars going?

All we are asking is for all the facts that will help make us a better, stronger community that can provide the best health care possible for all of us.

D. LeFever

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February 26, 2010

Dear Editor,

As an employee of CHS Lakeway Regional Hospital I have great desires for our hospital to grow and prosper in the community. I have worked in both For Profit and Not for Profit establishments. As an employee the difference is minimal but as a community member it is huge. The gain that Hamblen County would benefit from is exciting and how anyone would choose to pass up this opportunity is without question absurd. 

We want to put money back into the system not take it out. Both hospitals worry about their bottom line and if MHHS were to not make their goals they would turn to the county for a bail out. Covenant Health is not the answer to MHHS’S problems. Covenant has stated that they will send critical heart and newborn patients to Knoxville for treatment.

Who benefits from those dollars? It would be Knox County, not Hamblen County.  A merge between the two facilities would only benefit our community, from the higher level of care, to the amount of taxes paid into the local government. One million dollars paid in taxes per year to this county would make a world of difference to our roads and schools.

As a parent to know that any extra money going into the school system is encouraging. The schools currently struggle to meet the needs of the children everyday. I myself have bought so many materials for my child that I feel should be provided by the school system for his education. Given what I know CHS has offered for MHHS versus what I know Covenant Health has, which by the way is nothing because they will not disclose their offer, the board of directors of MHHS have a opportunity to push this community forward with merging with CHS Lakeway Regional Hospital!

Michelle Collins

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Dear Editor,

I am an employee of Lakeway Regional Hospital. I am a former employee of Morristown–Hamblen Hospital. I have nothing bad to say about either hospital. I have received great care at both hospitals as a patient as well.

My concern is that the public does not understand the difference between for profit and non profit hospitals. If the only reason for the community not to come to Lakeway Regional Hospital and for MHHS not to listen to what CHS has to say is because of for profit and non profit, then that is absurd.

MHHS has great services for the community, but all of those services have caused them to go broke. You need someone to help, and CHS is offering those services. Not to hurt MHHS, but to help this community and the Hamblen county taxpayers.

For profit hospital means we pay taxes. Non profit means the community pays the taxes to keep MHHS afloat.

That is fine if you care your kids go without glue, pencils, paper, etc. at school because it’s all going to a non profit hospital. You have to get the same care at a for profit hospital you do a non profit. You get billed the same, and if you don’t pay, you go to collections all the same.

Please as a community, and with so many lay off’s and cutbacks, don’t be afraid of a for profit hospital. Be glad for it because your taxes won’t rise and that is extra money we all need in our pockets.

Thanks,

Laura Standifer