Columbia/HCA, Like a Virus on U.S. Medicine For Immediate release
Dec. 11, 1997
In an unprecedented move the Union of American Physicians and Dentists commissioned a California journalist to describe the damage done to American medicine and hospitals by Columbia/HCA Healthcare Corp., the giant heath care corporation.
The story by Michael Merrill, released this month, outlines the questionable nationwide activities of Columbia/HCA and exposes the megacorporation's greed in its efforts to snap up Watsonville Community Hospital, a locally owned and operated hospital in the Monterey Bay Area
"We have sent Merrills story to more then 300 doctors in Santa Clara, San Benito and Monterey counties. Physicians need to know what will happen to their hospital practices if this corporation takes over their local hospital. It can only be likened to a virus that is eroding American healthcare in hospitals."
Weinmann said Columbia is just one of more than a dozen U.S. health management organizations whose only interest is in making profits, and not in providing the best care available.
The story quotes Kathy Berry, the public relations director of St. Marys Hospital in Enid, Oklahoma, who described Columbia as not only buying hospitals, but "buying doctors. They go for power and they own you. They own your town and your newspaper."
St Marys hospital is a non-profit organization operated by the Sisters of Mercy which successfully fought a takeover by Columbia. "They cut every department to the quick. They cut nursing so much the sisters felt they could not fulfill their mission."
Merrill also describes how Columbia has forged questionable alliances with U.S. Senator William Frist of Tennessee, brother of Thomas Frist Columbia's vice-chairman, and U.S. Sen. Ginny Brown-Waite of Florida who received $30,000 as a consultant to Columbia while serving on the Same Health Can Committee.
"We know that the U.S. news media have exposed Columbia's greed and unethical activities, but we felt that our physicians need to know as much as they can about Columbia, "said Weinmann.
Columbia/HCA, embroiled in a tax dispute with the Internal Revenue Service, recently agreed to a $71 million settlement with the IRS which had sought $276 million in back taxes. In another tax dispute, the IRS also maintains the corporation owes $351 million in taxes.
Columbia/HCA is appealing the IRS decision.
contact: Dr. Robert Weinmann, UAPD president (510) 839-0193 or (408) 292-0804
Gary Robinson, UAPD executive director (510) 839-0193
Elias Castillo, UAPD public affairs director (650) 368-5322