Letters to the editor Sept. 12

Sheehy’s plan hurts rural hospitals

I am a retired CPA and former CFO of hospitals in Whitefish, Dillon and Miles City. In addition I am a past president of the Montana chapter of the Healthcare Financial Management Association.

Tim Sheehy’s plan to privatize hospitals in Montana will have draconian effects. Local hospitals will no longer have a 501 (c) (3) tax exemption. Thus hospitals will be forced to pay property taxes on land, buildings and equipment. And hospital foundations will go away, as contributions will not be deductible.  

Under private ownership, the hospital will have to pay a handsome return on investment. Of course, unprofitable services will be most likely discontinued. And certainly many hospitals would close.

But Montana citizens should not just take my word for it.  Call your local hospital board members and administrators and request them to calculate the effect on the hospital if the tax exemption goes away and Medicare and Medicaid cease to exist.

Montanans love their not for profit hospitals. It would be a travesty if Tim Sheehy gets his way and they all get taken over by Wall Street firms.

­— Jim Alderson, La Quinta, California

Heath care workers support Sheehy

As health care providers, hospital leaders, nurses, and support staff who serve or have served rural Montana communities, we condemn the recent television ads and full-page advertisements by Jon Tester’s campaign and the absolute lies being told to our fellow neighbors.

The ads, some of which use the names and photos of local hospitals, falsely accuse Tim Sheehy of threatening rural hospitals, misleading the patients we serve.

Some of us have gotten to know Tim through his and his wife’s philanthropy supporting Montana health care, or have had the opportunity to hear him speak during his run for office. 

Tim has always been clear about the importance of increasing access and lowering costs to affordable, high quality health care, supporting rural hospitals, and protecting Montanans with pre-existing conditions.

Whether through his philanthropy, or in public office, we trust Tim Sheehy to ensure we can continue to deliver the critical health care services our communities depend upon.

Alice Kmetz, RN, Miles City

Becky Mummey, RN, Billings

Breck Howard, radiologist, St. Ignatius 

Brooke Wagner, MT-BC, Billings

Cassie Wenckus, RN, Great Falls

Catherine Dewitt, RN, Thompson Falls

Denise Jimmerson, RN, Lewistown

Donna Upham, RN, Loma

Elaine Dodge, former RN, Livingston

Jennifer Sofie, DNP and NP, Manhattan

Rep. Jodee Etchart, physician assistant, Billings

Julie Wilcox, medical records, Livingston

Karen Lippert, RN, Fort Benton

Kendi Wenger, RN, Loma

Lance Loving, hospital I.T. professional, Lewistown

Laurie Ray, RN, Lewistown

Linda Allen, registered dietician, Lewistown

Lisa Ash, RN, Lewistown

Liz Howell, LPN, EMT, Lewistown

Mark Templeton, MD, Billings

Marla Davis, physical therapist, Bozeman

Matt Bailey, MD, orthopedic surgeon, Whitefish

Michael Piper, former hospital administrator, Anaconda

Michelle Danreuther, retired RN, Loma

Mitch Gallagher, MD, Billings

Nancy Gerdrum, RN, Lewistown

Neal Sorensen, MD, FACP, Billings

Pam Purinton, RN-BSN, Billings

Pamela Longmire, dementia practitioner, Helena

Patty Jo Danreuther, RN, Loma

Paul Piper, former hospital administrator, Anaconda

Paula Witt, former RN, Fort Benton

Peggy O’Neill, RN, Livingston

Rob Brandt, White Sulphur Springs

Shay Wagner, RN, Missoula

Susie Wilber, RN, Lewistown

Tana Steiner, registered nurse, Bozeman

Tara Hudson, certified medical assistant, Missoula

Tim Richards, retired physician, MD FACS, Missoula