Patients and healthcare providers both share deep concern about rising healthcare costs. A bill moving through the Legislature (House Bill 350) seeks to address this challenge by creating a politically appointed board to review the annual budget of the state’s hospitals and impose certain reimbursement caps. The legislation, as written, would weaken the financial position of Sussex community hospitals like Beebe Healthcare and undercut their ability to serve disadvantaged and medically underserved populations.
There is absolutely a need to protect the people of Delaware from predatory pricing models by healthcare providers, but this bill's failure to distinguish between for-profit and nonprofit organizations is irresponsible because it fails to address the real underlying issues here: a lack of access to healthcare. One size does not fit all in Delaware healthcare. Smaller nonprofit hospitals must operate under a framework that is created by insurance companies rather than by the providers themselves.
Government-controlled panels should not replace local community-based control. The progress already achieved in improved healthcare through local oversight and direction must be sustained and enhanced.
The people of our district – and everyone throughout the State of Delaware – deserve to have reliable healthcare options close to home, which is why I oppose this bill in its current form. I urge our Legislature to amend this bill to include exemptions for nonprofit medical facilities so that we can ensure that all Delawareans have access to affordable, reliable healthcare and so we can continue our work to bring new healthcare facilities into Sussex County. If elected to represent the 14th District, I will work to put our interests here first and work with our local healthcare providers for workable, community-based solutions to address rising health costs. Our voices must be heard in Dover!
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