Health care CEOs: Inaction on reform is worst case scenario

Posted by Chris Pace on October 27, 2009 under Hospital Management | Be the First to Comment

The worst thing that can happen to patients, employers, health care providers and insurers is for nothing to happen regarding health reform, said Leo Brideau, president and chief executive officer of Columbia St. Mary’s Inc.

The health system we have in this country today is unsustainable,” Brideau said. “So any of us who feels comfortable with what they have, it’s not an option. You will lose your health insurance over time. We’re seeing that over and over again as more and more Americans become uninsured.”

Brideau was joined by Bill Petasnick, CEO of Froedtert & Community Health, Ford Titus, CEO of ProHealth Care, and Dr. Nick Turkal, CEO of Aurora Health Care, Tuesday during a health care summit held at the Pfister by The Business Journal Serving Greater Milwaukee.

CEOs from the Milwaukee-area’s other two health systems, Peggy Troy of Children’s Hospital and Health System, and John Oliverio, of Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare, were unable to attend the summit.

Monday’s announcement by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid that a health reform bill will include the controversial public option was the perfect illustration to Petasnick’s point that there has never been a topic, other than health care, that changes hourly.

Petasnick has had a seat locally and nationally at the health care debate as president and chief executive officer of Froedtert & Community Health and the immediate past president of the American Hospital Association.

“Had this discussion occurred a week ago, I think all of us would have predicted that would go to the Conference Committee is a bill that included a public option from the House, but not from the Senate,” Petasnick said. “In real time, we see that over the weekend a public plan has emerged from the senate. What we say today is probably going to be outdated by the end of the session.”

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