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Health Care
FOI unearths St. Vincent draft proposal for UAMS combine
Joann Coleman, a civic activist who's been closely following the proposed UAMS-St. Vincent services merger, has unearthed yet another interesting document from her series of FOI inquiries. She detected from remarks by Chancellor Dan Rahn at UAMS that there were further documents indicating St. Vincent bargaining positions. She requested them. The UAMS lawyer said they didn't exist. She persisted.
Today, she got a response from University of Arkansas counsel Fred Harrison, Oops.Harrison said the UAMS lawyer didn't know about a proposed agreement drafted by St. Vincent's corporate attorney and sent to Chancellor Rahn.
It was written in May. It details some of the ways St. Vincent hopes to make a pot of money in fees from managing merged operations with UAMS (and also receive enhanced reimbursements under Medicare for treating patients as part of a teaching hospital.)
For now, here's what St. Vincent proposed in a first draft of a letter of intent on the combination. It's a small point, but I note with disapproval that it essentially calls for UAMS to agree to violate the state Freedom of Information Act by preventing UAMS from "unilaterally" releasing information about the agreement without first consulting St. Vincent and making a joint response.
It goes without saying that the stated objective of reducing costs means somebody will lose their job.
And remember when everybody disavowed the statement ascribed to St. Vincent doc Dean Kumpuris that something akin to a merge of the hospitals was the plan?
The Parties share a special and common commitment to patient care, biomedical research and the education of the next generation of healthcare providers. To that end, while the initial affiliation of SVHS and UAMS will consist of CHI providing certain shared services to UAMS, the Parties intend to fully integrate SVHS’s and UAMS’s facilities and services into a single network entity (the “Network Entity”).
Again the questions: Will a fully integrated medical institution managed by St. Vincent — and guided by church dictates — provide all the services provided by the public institution? Will the employees of that merged, publicly supported institution provide the same health care benefits and protection from discrimination that the public institution is mandated to provide?
Re fees: The proposal says this about what St. Vincent (or its owner, Catholic Health Initiatives, would get for letting UAMS students practice at the merged institution it manages:
In exchange for CHI providing the Shared Services to UAMS, UAMS will pay CHI fees in an amount to be mutually agreed upon by the Parties, including, Without limitation, a management fee that will take into account the revenue enhancement, cost savings, and capital savings that UAMS Will derive from CHI providing the Shared Services to UAMS.
Arkansas Politics / Little Rock Government
Who does the LR Chamber of Commerce represent?
OK, I obsess some on Little Rock government's dependent relationship with the Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce. But their influence is enormous. And they represent, lobby for and advance points of view that are in the best interests of the corporate membership they represent. That is not always — rarely, in fact — in the interest of working stiffs.
So when the Chamber runs a secretive campaign for a half-billion-dollar city tax increase and gets a $20 million tip in return for a "technology park" designed in its image, I tend to want more disclosure, more accountability and better results than the city has ever demanded from the chamber in return for its co-dependency.
Another reminder came today of the reason why the Chamber is better off raising money from its members for its agenda and why the city should not — particularly because the Constitution seems to prohibit it — give taxpayer subsidies to the chamber.
Jay Chessir, traveling partner with Mayor Stodola on wine- and fancy food-fueled publicly financed junkets to Paris; architect of the secretive and law-dodging sales campaign, and ruling member and administrative officer for the secretive and colossally screwed up Technology Park Authority, sent an e-mail recently that found its way to my in box.
I thought you’d find this informative. Thanks.
Jay
This morning, Bruce Josten delivered the truth to our Board. More specifically, he delivered 10 Truths About America's Entitlement Programs, an important address about a very important topic — “…the urgent need to reform and modernize our entitlement programs”. With this speech, we hope to begin to get the facts out, to jump start the debate and ultimately, to pave the way for action on this critical issue.
I hope you’ll take a moment to learn the truth — the 10 truths — about America’s entitlement programs and join us in driving a national conversation, one that’s grounded in fact and leads to solutions.Thank you,
Tom
Tom is Thomas Collamore, strategist for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, as mean and greedy and anti-people a lobby as you'll find in America today.
Truth to the Chamber is that something must halt the success of "entitlements," meaning the Social Security and Medicare programs that American people pay with payroll deductions and that have, in just a few generations, lifted huge numbers of the elderly out of poverty and medical deprivation. They'll tell you that it isn't a cut in these programs to hold them at current spending levels or tiny percentage increases. But you'll have to look hard for chamber support on limits on the percentage pay increases enjoyed by doctors, drug companies, medical companies, insurance companies and other enormous beneficiaries of "entitlements," something most civilized western countries treat as an obligation to their people. Changes are needed, to be sure, though you'll see in an inspection of the Chamber's talking points that it misrepresents the situation on Social Security particularly. This is the kind of thinking that runs the Chamber. And, by extension, Little Rock city government.
Conway copes with monkey escape
Twitter has been lit up today with tales of an 'escape artist' macaque monkey that let itself out of a Conway vet's office last night and put a succesful chase in motion.
Should we note that the Arkansas legislature got into the monkey regulation business this year?
A friend of animals comments:
It says they took two tries to tranquilize the monkey which could be because the animal was scared and had adrenaline running through its veins. That often happens in situations like this where the first tranquilization doesn’t take. That’s not great for the animal.
Also, the report says the animals crawled onto one of the officers. These officers had no idea the kind-of real danger they were in. Most people think pet monkeys are cute and fun and don’t understand that they are wild animals. Here this monkey is in a situation where it’s being circled and someone is trying to capture it and it’s stressed. It could easily turn on one of those officers and really do some damage by clawing and biting.
Also, the officer was told to go to the hospital but this report doesn’t say the officer was recommended to be tested for any type of zoonotic disease. He may have just gone to the hospital and said “a monkey bit me.” He should be tested for the B virus because almost every macaque monkey carries the B virus. Period. And there’s no telling whether-or-not these healthcare professionals knew he was bitten by a macaque.
Rock Candy
Reviews / Music
Review: The Dig at Stickyz, June 12
The Dig draws from the Brooklyn rock talent base that brought us bands like The Strokes and The Walkmen. After the dot-com bubble jacked up real estate prices on most every square inch of Manhattan real estate, penniless East Village hipsters countered by hopping the East River and setting up shop in the lofty warehouses of Williamsburg.
These concrete fortresses became the experimental grounds for much of the rangy tones and dreamy effects that now characterize contemporary indie rock. The Dig emerged from the thick of the indie cluster in 2010 with the release of their first album "Electric Toys." While the raw and sporadic guitar buzz of this initial effort lodged the band firmly within the indie fold, 2012’s "Midnight Flowers" signaled a distinctive departure and moved the group toward developing its own measured style and character. At Stickyz, fans and first-timers were treated to a cumulative sampling, including tracks from The Dig’s newest EP, "Tired Hearts."
The band’s progression shows a willful diminution from raw, physical buzz to a more nuanced soulfulness signaled and carried, part-and-parcel, in lyrical streams unabashedly born from pain. One cannot listen to The Dig without self-reflection. “I Already Forgot Everything You Said” showcased the vocal talents of singer/bassist, Emile Mosseri. Mosseri has an almost childlike sound that blends magically with weightier lyrical content. The effect is a juxtaposition of levity and gravity every bit as overwhelming and transcendent as a Richard Serra sculpture.
Here’s a lyric: “When you think of all the things that I said to you / They wouldn’t cut to the bone if they weren’t true / You can keep ‘em locked away inside your head / But I already forgot everything you said.”
With a head full of data, what do you hold on to, and what do you let slide? It’s a worthy contemplation, as we scurry into the thick of the Information Age. Are you hanging on, or moving on?
More recent songs suggest the band is moving forward into new musical territories. These tracks deliciously highlight the same refined, somber themes that define the group, but with poppier, groovier accompaniment. “How Can You Trust a Feeling” features a raw descending guitar riff that absolutely howls when played live, and “Without Your Love” is supported by a catchy surf rock beat.
It’s remarkably refreshing to occasionally catch a band like this. And some of us, perhaps, need bands like The Dig more than others. The crowd wasn’t rioting or bouncing off the walls, and sometimes a calm and collective sea of blank faces can actually be a surprising and uplifting source of fun and encouragement in the same way you might suspect hanging with a group of Zen masters might be kind of awesome. These aren’t the cool kids. These are the people the cool kids know are way cooler.
— Mark Holland
Music / Contests
Win a pair of tickets to see Johnny Winter at Juanita's
UPDATE: Congrats to Rock Candy reader Michael McSwain, who won our drawing for two tickets to see Johnny Winter at Juanita's Friday.
Hey there, how about this: you and a buddy get to go see Johnny Winter June 21 at Juanita's PLUS get to go to the meet-n-greet before the show and maybe get your picture made with the blues guitar legend. Sound cool? Well your old pals here at the Times are going to be giving away just such a prize.
All you need to do is send an email to robertbell at arktimes dot com with JOHNNY WINTER in the subject line. Send it in by noon on June 19. I'll draw names later that afternoon and announce the winner here on Rock Candy.
Good luck!
What's going on / Heavy Metal
Thursday To-Do: The Body
THE BODY
9:30 p.m. White Water Tavern.
The Body's been out on the road for a minute now, or, well more like several weeks to be accurate.
The dudes also somehow made time to stop off at their buddies' studio Machines with Magnets to record three full-length albums, including one that's going to be released on the Thrill Jockey label, which is also home to Barn Owl, Guardian Alien, The Skull Defekts and many other totally badass artists, so good work guys!
The Body's latest release, the EP "Master We Perish," is boss. I really dig how they go into some seriously Neurosis-esque territory for a sec on the last third of the nearly 10-minute closer "Worship." The whole thing is really killer though, and points to more great stuff to come. Oh yeah, for all of you The Body newbies, make sure to bring some earplugs. Openers Iron Tongue and Mothwind are gonna tenderize y'all. Should be a good'n.
Cover Story
Exploring Big Island, where three rivers meet
Event Calendar
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Re: The open line — spanking wives for Jesus
rc, seems that most people mourn Gandolfini's passing rather than Slim Whitman's. At 90 years…
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Re: The open line — spanking wives for Jesus
I usually start blogging in the morning but mag displeased me at 9:20 am and…
- on June 20, 2013
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Re: The open line — spanking wives for Jesus
Exodus International to Shut Down
JUNE 19, 2013 BY EXODUS INTERNATIONAL
Exodus International to Shut…- on June 20, 2013
Arkansas Reporter
Ark. Republicans spar with Planned Parenthood over healthcare guides
Editorials
Huck beats Rick
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What's there, what's coming.
Fox16 Local News and Weather
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Adventure Park Employee "Slaps" Would-Be Thief Out of Boat
June 20, 2013A zip line adventure park in central Arkansas took the law into its own hands. fox16.com /more/ -
Fallen Tree Limb Threatens NLR Home
June 19, 2013Crews remove a fallen tree limb from a neighbor's roof. fox16.com /more/
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