Simons: Closed-door meetings still pursuing K.C. hospital deal / LJWorld.com

Archive for Saturday, October 13, 2007

October 13, 2007

A small handful of powerful, determined, self-serving Kansas City businessmen, Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, Kansas University Chancellor Robert Hemenway, KU Medical Center Executive Vice Chancellor Barbara Atkinson, several St. Luke's Hospital advocates and former Yale University president Benno Schmidt are putting on a full-court press to try to jam a one-sided, giveaway plan down the throats of KU Hospital and KUMC officials to strengthen St. Luke's at KU's expense.

The effort has been under way for close to two years, much of the time in secrecy and with no effort to seek the approval of Kansas legislators, the Kansas Board of Regents or KU Hospital board and staff members.

Schmidt was hired by the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation to come up with a plan that would look good and sound good to strengthen Kansas City, Mo. The effort was titled, "Time to Get It Right" and called for a citywide collaboration among medical research facilities.

After the original study was made public, the St. Luke's crowd, Hemenway, Atkinson and a couple of Kansas City proponents broadened the study, calling for an educational effort among KUMC, KU Hospital and St. Luke's.

Threats were made if KU Hospital officials and board members did not roll over and acquiesce. They said if an agreement between St. Luke's, KUMC and KU Hospital was not signed by this past January, St. Luke's would sign an agreement with Washington University and the Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. No agreement was signed, and the blackmail effort proved to be phony. Another deadline was set and, again, no agreement. The Kansas City and St. Luke's group said the Washington University deal was still on as well as an offer by the Dana Farber people in Boston and M.D. Anderson in Houston.

Again, a hollow threat, and there still is no firm agreement.

Why Hemenway and Atkinson are so obsessed with a one-way deal with St. Luke's raises many suspicious questions. There's little question why Sebelius is so committed: It's all about what's in the best interests of her future political career and the vital fiscal support she will need to pursue her dreams.

In the last several weeks, there have been some interesting new developments:

¢ A private meeting was held in Topeka with Sebelius, Hemenway, Atkinson, Dr. Roy Jensen of KUMC and a few others. The purpose was to figure out how to speed the approval of the giveaway to St. Luke's.

These individuals continued to say the alliance with St. Luke's was necessary if KU was to have any chance to be named a National Cancer Center facility.

This is not true. Those who continue to use this argument are not being honest with the public or state legislators. St. Luke's does not add enough cancer research and patients to make the difference on the NCC designation. It would be far more significant to have KU develop an affiliation with the Kansas City Oncology Center, which handles 60 to 70 percent of outpatient cancer care in Kansas City.

¢ Last Friday, another meeting was held, chaired by Schmidt. Schmidt, Hemenway, Kansas State University President Jon Wefald, the head of the Kansas City Chamber of Commerce and others gathered to plan the next "summit meeting" to be held in Kansas City in January or February where Sebelius and Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt will meet and sign some kind of feel-good agreement of understanding and cooperation between KU and St. Luke's. This is the agreement that was supposed to have been signed last January, then last March and still hasn't been agreed to.

At this meeting, it is reported Schmidt berated Hemenway, perhaps three or four times, for not getting the hospital deal nailed down.

What business is it of Schmidt, a hired hand, to chide Hemenway or any other KU chancellor?

¢ A few days ago, Sebelius announced the appointment of Johnson County banker Robert Regnier to the KU Hospital Authority board.

The news story said Sebelius wanted to fill seven board positions. The hospital is governed by a 19-member board; 13 represent the public and six are ex-officio voting members who are there because of their positions at KU.

The idea of the governor appointing the public members is misleading. The statute creating the hospital board calls for a committee of board members to nominate two or three individuals for each board position. These names are to be forwarded to the governor who selects one of those nominees.

Sebelius already has tried to load or pack the board with individuals she can control or who will vote the way she wishes. KU Provost Richard Lariviere took one of the ex-officio seats on the board, but after questions were raised, Kansas Attorney General Paul Morrison said the provost was not listed in the statute as an ex-officio member, and Lariviere could not serve in that role.

In an earlier instance, Sebelius refused to accept the recommendation of the nominating committee. She will continue to try to pack the board with individuals who owe an allegiance or some debt to her.

¢ Currently, there is another nasty situation relative to the hospital.

A group of KU nephrologists (kidney doctors) have announced plans to work with an independent Kansas City, Kan., dialysis facility where they would treat patients who could pay their full bill. Those who couldn't pay, the indigent and others, would be handled by KU Hospital with the hospital or state picking up the tab.

The doctors would end up with a far better financial return, working with patients at the independent medical facility rather than taking care of indigent patients at KU Hospital.

According to some reports, Atkinson and Hemenway have approved or at least have not objected to the plan, and the approval of the hospital board has not been sought.

Consequently, some hospital board members are considering legal action against Hemenway and Atkinson for failure to carry out their fiduciary responsibilities for the hospital. Why would they OK such a scheme for the doctors if it wasn't in the best interests of the hospital? Why approve a plan that could take away income for the hospital? This again raises the question of why they would favor a giveaway to St. Luke's.

This entire KU Hospital, KUMC and St. Luke's battle is a mess and an embarrassment. It didn't have to happen this way.

It will be interesting to note the reaction of state legislators toward KU when they convene in January. KUMC officials, including the chancellor and Atkinson, have said they don't have any obligation to seek the approval of legislators for the agreement with St. Luke's or any details of the plan until after it is signed. In other words, they have told lawmakers to butt out.

The regents have covered their eyes and ears and said they have full confidence in the chancellor and whatever he wants to do is OK with them.

The state and its taxpayers deserve something far better. And, to compound the matter, the public has not been told the truth..

Discussion

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13 October 2007
at 7:24 a.m.

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merrill (Anonymous) says…

Sounds like the Lawrence anti economic growth team aka real estate/developer “growth machine” executives. That does work for the World Company eh Dolph?

So what's the real beef here Dolph? It has never been clear.
13 October 2007
at 8:23 a.m.

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Godot (Anonymous) says…

Excellent piece, Dolph. Sebelius should be impeached over this.
13 October 2007
at 8:59 a.m.

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monkeyhawk (Anonymous) says…

My loved one is about to begin chemotherapy at KU Hospital on Monday. She is in trouble and we all have hopes this will save her life. She is rather young and my family is devastated.

THAT is the role of a hospital, not the advancement of someone's political life, or the padding of someone's pocket. Mr. Simon's complaints of secretive dealing and unfairness don't mean much to anyone who is in the position of seeking critical care for a family member. What does mean something is the quality of services delivered. If an affiliation with St. Luke's will assure that, so be it.

In fact, when I was growing up in KC/Shawnee Mission, St. Luke's was my family's hospital of choice because it was considered the best in the area. So, maybe the border thing means so much more to people in Lawrence than it does to those who live in the KC area.
13 October 2007
at 9:36 a.m.

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Godot (Anonymous) says…

So sorry about your loved one, Monkeyhawk, my praryers are with you and your family.
13 October 2007
at 9:39 a.m.

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DonnieDarko (Anonymous) says…

Grind…grind……grind….grind….

Dolph: That axe must be pretty darn sharp by now.
13 October 2007
at 9:55 a.m.

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Godot (Anonymous) says…

Hey, DonnieDarko, is this inconvenient truth wearing you down?
13 October 2007
at 9:59 a.m.

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DonnieDarko (Anonymous) says…

Nah, Godot…but it does get tiresome responding to far right-wing sound-byte spouting idiots like yourself.

13 October 2007
at 10:38 a.m.

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Uhlrick_Hetfield_III (Anonymous) says…

Hemenway is a lackey for the Kansas City establishment, something that can be observed from the associations in his CV. One of the problems this deal presents is that medical care for the indigent in Wyandotte County will either diminish, or the cost transferred to the tax payer as a result of this deal.

The essence is that the profit centers from KU Hospital are being moved to Missouri, while the losers subsidized by those programs are left behind. The reason why Governor Roundheels flopped on her back for this bunch is that she and her Republicrat pals have received heavy financial assistance from the KCMO establishment and the fact that the Community Foundation has its nose in the process is a big indicator of who's actually calling the shots. (The figure head of the Community Foundation is the daughter of the head strategist for the Johnson County Republican Mafia, and Atkinson's flunky, David Adkins, once had a “job” there when he was in the legislature, banker Bob Regnier is huge in both KCMO and Johnson County politics, as is Don Hall, and former regent Dick Bond was either on the board, or an advisor. A trip to their website and a look at its board and advisers is also informative.)

This is about money, tons of it, and this has been in the works for years. I'm amazed there's been this much opposition, and Mr. Simons is to be congratulated for beating a drum none of the other media people seem to have the inclination to beat.

Just as Sebelius sold us out to the coal industry, she has also sold us out to the KCMO/Johnson County big money folks. Sebelius is just a hireling and Hemenway and Atkinson are just gofers, as Simons' column describes. That's why some hired hand from the Foundation can ream Hemenway out. He's so far down the totem pole in this circle that he probably had his shine kit with him.
13 October 2007
at 10:40 a.m.

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Uhlrick_Hetfield_III (Anonymous) says…

Incidentally, St. Lukes is a fine hospital. I suspect they're as much a pawn in this as KU.
13 October 2007
at 12:36 p.m.

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Uhlrick_Hetfield_III (Anonymous) says…

Apparently the med center's PR firm has discovered the topic. If no one reads this stuff, why would you care vultureperchedatriverfront? Just move along and let those who do care discuss the issue.

Circulation for all newspapers is going down, in part I would suggest because they don't write stuff like this often enough. Mr. Simons has stumbled on a great gimmick here. Root out corruption and write about it. Expose the evil doers for their despicable ways. If there was more of this stuff around, Kansas would have more money for services for the truly needy while Governor Roundheels and her wealthy KCMO/Johnson County benefactors would have to stick their snouts in a different trough.
13 October 2007
at 7:02 p.m.

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Uhlrick_Hetfield_III (Anonymous) says…

Uh, no, no and no. My “vendetta” against Sebelius is based on the fact that she's a corporate political wh*re. maybe you're into politicians like that, I'm not.

I do have friends serving in this administration and they tell me that they're on the outside looking in while all these Republican carpetbaggers are staring back at them from the inside.

I also read Pitch, The Wichita Eagle and Steve Kraske at The Star (apparently they're incompetent right-wingers from a previous administration also) who tell us about her betrayal on the coal plant issue.

Then there's this debacle. These columns are well researched and highly informative. What's your excuse for ignoring them? Are you an incompetent state employee in a political position who has to kiss some wh*re's behind to keep your job?
13 October 2007
at 7:09 p.m.

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Uhlrick_Hetfield_III (Anonymous) says…

Folks, read carefully again the part about leaving medical care for the indigent behind for the taxpayers to subsidize, if it will continue at all, while allowing the profitable work to go elsewhere. Is that the kind of reactionary medical care you support, cynical? Is that why Sebelius was elected, to screw the poor out of medical care? That's just the tip of the iceberg.
13 October 2007
at 7:21 p.m.

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Uhlrick_Hetfield_III (Anonymous) says…

Ah, thank you cynical, exactly my point. Sebelius is a Republican. She has surrounded herself with other Republicans and pushed real Democrats out the door. And, as I pointed out, you don't have to believe a word I say, you can read the Pitch, The Eagle, The Star, or the JW to get the good news that one of your ilk is in the governor's mansion. In the meantime, you'll forgive those of us who care whether the poor get medical care are a little PO'd. Of course, if you don't, who cares, you're calloused, you'll get over it.
13 October 2007
at 8:47 p.m.

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Uhlrick_Hetfield_III (Anonymous) says…

Facts and issues be damned? You can't even spell her name right. It's pretty obvious facts don't mean much to you. Why would I waste my time on an ignorant redneck? Go back and vote 100% Republican and I'll worry about the Democratic Party. Man, that's the dumbest response I ever got. Is she giving you some? She seems to be attached to every other greedy a$$ Republican.

Either deal with the information or go bother someone else and keep your ignorant emails to yourself also you little Reaganite punk.
13 October 2007
at 9:10 p.m.

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Uhlrick_Hetfield_III (Anonymous) says…

Boy, you Republicans sure know how to argue. How old are you, 12? You vote? I don't think so.

13 October 2007
at 9:34 p.m.

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Uhlrick_Hetfield_III (Anonymous) says…

Oh thank you, thank you thank. Boy did you tear Simons' editorial apart with that. Take that Eagle. Up yours Pitch. Facts don't bother you.

Two or three PR firms and millions at stake and this is their argument for selling out KU Hospital. They send out a troll. The joke is that they probably spent 100k on this jerk. Oh well,if you don't have the facts, pound the table.
13 October 2007
at 11:44 p.m.

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situveux1 (Anonymous) says…

Sebelius a Republican? That's a first for me, I've NEVER heard that before. Now, the Rino's she associates with…I'd call them Democrats but in reality they're just carpetbaggers…and Sebelius just happens to be the biggest trough for them to eat from right now. Hell, they'd be Communists if it meant a bigger paycheck and more power at the end of the day. If she went down tomorrow they'd jump ship within hours and find the next best thing to suck off of.

And seriously, if you vote 100% Republican but NOT for Ryun, Brownback, Roberts or Bush, who's left? I doubt you voted for Kline. You seem to love Sebelius, so I doubt you voted for Barnett. Who the hell's left??? A State Rep and a State Senator??? Yea, that's a 100% Republican ballot. Moron.

Sebelius has scared the media into not reporting the truth (like what was done so well above) and you ignorant morons who have nothing better to say than call people names are feeding right into that.

Oh my, it's too much for me to understand, so instead I'll just blindly follow the good ol' Gov. and stick my head in the sand. And anyone that calls me out with facts, well I'll just shout them down and say they have a vendetta. Damn the facts…listen to my ranting of others instead!!!
14 October 2007
at 1 a.m.

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Uhlrick_Hetfield_III (Anonymous) says…

Very interesting comments, my only disagreement is that I think Sebelius is licking from their trough. I think you're correct in that she gave them a vehicle to ride in, but as Simons argues, she's clearly dancing to their tune.

I would argue that now, thanks to Sebelius, we have two Republican parties and no Democratic Party. Take a look at the finance reports. The real Democratic statewide candidates got nothing to spend on their campaigns while the two Republicrat tickets (Morrison and Sebelius/Parkinson) got it all. Then take a look at where the money came from and compare that to a list of the something like the Kansas Traditional Republican Majority. Also banker Bob Regnier, mentioned above as a Sebelius appointee, is a *big* time Johnson County Republican.

Talk to your friends out west who are involved in the water rights struggle (frmgrrl on the Eagle forum, for instance) and the coal plant struggle and this debacle of pillaging KU Hospital and then tell me what a great Democrat Kathleen is. This woman has sold everything of value she has to offer.
14 October 2007
at 9:16 p.m.

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situveux1 (Anonymous) says…

See, I think that is so interesting you have put it that way. I have no use for Sebelius but clearly for other reasons than yourself. I never really thought about the cash situation but I think you're right in a way…there really are only two parties in Kansas. I myself think of there being a Republican party and then a Democrat party which happens to have many members that are registered Republican. But, I guess I do that because I really want nothing to do with the country-club Republicans who have no other interest than lining their own pockets. That's what bothers me about Sebelius too…she's into this for her own benefit, really there's no other reason.

What's frustrating I think is the chosen ignorance of the media. KU Med Center is going down in flames thanks to her and what do they do? Ignore it. She can't make up her mind about coal plants…ignore it. She can hire or fire the guy making the decision, but the media let's her dissociate from him as much as possible. I get so sick and tired of the selective reporting…

Your comments give me hope…hope that others who don't necessarily agree with me politically can at least see a politician who is doing nothing more than fleecing the state for all its worth.
14 October 2007
at 9:52 p.m.

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Uhlrick_Hetfield_III (Anonymous) says…

If we cannot agree to demand honesty from the politicians we vote for, we are lost. The values voters of both parties are being used like pawns by the crooks. On the right they promise abortion will be stopped, but don't really because they like who's being aborted. On the “left” Sebelius provides symbolic solutions to problems that don't exist while she literally sells the farm. How can I chastise a Republican for supporting a Bill Graves and then turn around and support a female version of him. In fact, on issues of race, Graves is better than Sebelius. How can I be proud of a party that gets 90% of the African-American vote and then refuses to support either of the statewide African-American candidates (or, for that manner, Bonnie Sharp)? A pox on both Graves and Sebelius.

At least when Joan Finney was governor she supported referendums and initiated measures, but where is there a broadening of little d democratic access to government now?
18 October 2007
at 11:23 a.m.

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ashank (Anonymous) says…

Wow-what digression. You know, this is subject to Regents approval regardless of what Dolph says. As for indigent care, providers turning away medicare, medicaid, indigents, and in some cases, work comp patients is not just a problem confined to the KC area. This is happening all across the country, so blaming the KUMC, St. Luke's, KU Hospital deal for the possibility that might happen in the area means you haven't been paying attention to what's going on in healthcare. As the old saying goes, “you are so far behind the curve, you're falling off your dinosaur.” By the way, has anyone remembered that part of this has to do with KU Med become a national cancer research facility and the benefits that would bring? I bet you Moneyhawk does. My best to you and your loved one during your fight. Dolph has gone from editorial writer to news analyst on this one. As a famous writer (more famous than Dolph) once said, “editorial writers are those that come down from the hills after the battle and shoot the wounded.” An LA Times writer recently took it further and said that “news analysts not only come down from the hills, but also go thru the pockets of those shot looking for change.” Congratulations Dolph-you made both levels. Move on.