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Good morning,

I am a physician practicing in the public system in Oregon. I completed my residency training at OHSU. I think the cap is an important for our system to ensure we keep control of health care costs. I am admittedly not an expert on health care financing, but I have followed closely the public dialogue since 1995 when OHSU changed from a Public to a semi-Public institution.

I think you need to clarify what the liability cap covers -- damages, pain and suffering, punitive charges? What did it cover before, what is it covering after? When you talk of the care of patients that will suffer because of mistakes, as in the neonate presented in the preview, wouldn't 'medicaid' cover all of the health bills? Do we really need to have additional compensation?

It would be helpful to also discuss whether or not OHSU still maintains in spirit and practice the role of a 'public institution.' I have had increasing difficulty getting poor and uninsured patients access to specialists at OHSU. The barrier -- 'if you don't have insurance, we won't see you.' That in my mind is not how a public institution should behave. If they act like a private institution, should they not have to pay the same operating expenses as private institutions.

The program starts shortly so will send this email as is.

Douglas Lyon MD

posted 4 years, 7 months ago
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