Health care consumers

There has been much discussion and coverage regarding Eastern Maine Medical Center and other hospitals that are connected in some manner to the Eastern Healthcare Alliance, Maine Healthcare Alliance, Quorum and other connected agencies.

The public at large is not aware of who these people are and what influence that they have on small local hospitals. These agencies receive funding from the U.S. government as well as the state of Maine and do not submit detailed profit and loss statements or make them available to the health care consumer. They do not publish their activities or what management services they deliver to hospitals and the cost. Why do hospitals pay CEOs huge salaries and benefits when they are not able to do their jobs?

It is time the health care consumer is told who these people are and what good they do for the public. We pay Medicare insurance and taxes and we should have an accounting of how these funds are spent. The attorney generals of the U.S. government as well as the state of Maine would be well advised to investigate this consortium and make them disclose their business practices. It is possible that we may have an Enron, Tycosituation on our hands.

In the interest of fiscal responsibility as well as prudent management we should know about what we are paying for. The people of Maine deserve the best available health care at the best possible cost and not to have their money sent out of state.

John Kalkow

Gouldsboro