EMH governance issue

There has been a flurry of letters, op-ed columns and newspaper ads on Eastern Maine Healthcare’s board restructuring proposals. The proposed EMH governance structure limits the number of people who will make critical decisions about care and services. Some have suggested that health care board proceedings are highly technical and only a few people will be able to fully understand the issues.

In coming years there will be significant changes in how health care services will be delivered in our state. Last winter proposed changes in MaineCare Program packed the Augusta Civic Center with people who would be adversely affected by those decisions. The just recently published Maine State Health Care Plan proposes a Tough Choices campaign in coming months because we can’t afford everything we need from our health service menu. The state of Maine could begin the next legislative session with a near billion-dollar deficit.

Does it make Yankee common sense to let a small group of people, who collectively represent a very limited fraction of the demographic makeup of our state, control such decisions?

Unfortunately, too many hospital boards are comprised of business and professional members who have not had to worry much about living with chronic failure to thrive economic conditions. If such members were surveyed, I doubt very many would have salaries below $100,000 a year or lack health insurance. I also wonder about the gender andcultural balance of such boards.

Eastern Maine Healthcare is right when they say that governance matters. Just look at the growing list of corporations whose shareholders are in revolt because their interests have not been protected in the corporate boardroom. We need to avoid creating the Enron model at Eastern Maine Healthcare.

Mary Jane Bush

Bucksport