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| Hospital group bankrolls ominous-sounding TV ads against regulatory bill | Hospital group bankrolls ominous-sounding TV ads against regulatory bill |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| RICHMOND — With the ominous voice-over and music usually associated with political attack ads, a hospital group is trying to get ordinary Virginians stirred up about a seemingly arcane regulatory bill before the General Assembly. | RICHMOND — With the ominous voice-over and music usually associated with political attack ads, a hospital group is trying to get ordinary Virginians stirred up about a seemingly arcane regulatory bill before the General Assembly. |
| “The General Assembly is voting on legislation that will financially ruin your local hospital,” begins the TV ad running in the western half of the state. “Putting lives at risk, impacting life-saving medical procedures for young and old. Eliminating emergency services that save lives. Good-paying jobs gone. Your local hospital could close. You’ll pay more for medical care and get less. Call your legislator now.” | “The General Assembly is voting on legislation that will financially ruin your local hospital,” begins the TV ad running in the western half of the state. “Putting lives at risk, impacting life-saving medical procedures for young and old. Eliminating emergency services that save lives. Good-paying jobs gone. Your local hospital could close. You’ll pay more for medical care and get less. Call your legislator now.” |
| Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association has poured more than $200,000 into TV commercials and a related radio campaign, which is running in Charlottesville, Roanoke, Lynchburg and rural stretches of the state bordering Tennessee and West Virginia. | Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association has poured more than $200,000 into TV commercials and a related radio campaign, which is running in Charlottesville, Roanoke, Lynchburg and rural stretches of the state bordering Tennessee and West Virginia. |
| [Va. Senate passes bill restricting development proffers] | [Va. Senate passes bill restricting development proffers] |
| The ads seek to head off legislation, sponsored by Del. John M. O’Bannon III (R-Henrico), to repeal health-care laws that critics say create local monopolies and stifle innovation. The bill is up for debate in the House of Delegates on Thursday, with a final vote in the chamber expected Friday. | The ads seek to head off legislation, sponsored by Del. John M. O’Bannon III (R-Henrico), to repeal health-care laws that critics say create local monopolies and stifle innovation. The bill is up for debate in the House of Delegates on Thursday, with a final vote in the chamber expected Friday. |
| The measure comes amid a national push to eliminate regulations that require state pre-approval of hospital expansions, surgery centers and certain medical services. Virginia’s bill has Republican backing, but the issue does not always fall neatly along partisan lines. | The measure comes amid a national push to eliminate regulations that require state pre-approval of hospital expansions, surgery centers and certain medical services. Virginia’s bill has Republican backing, but the issue does not always fall neatly along partisan lines. |
| Some hospitals contend that the regulations, known as “certificate of public need” laws, prevent providers from artificially increasing prices and protect facilities that care for indigent patients. | |
| Matthew Moran, a spokesman for House Speaker William J. Howell (R-Stafford), criticized the ad campaign. | Matthew Moran, a spokesman for House Speaker William J. Howell (R-Stafford), criticized the ad campaign. |
| “It is unfortunate to see the overreach in the rhetoric; these claims are absolutely baseless,” Moran said in an email. “Demagoguing lawmakers and misleading their constituents is not how to have a productive conversation on such a significant issue. Everyone expects candid and frank discussion, but this approach will damage their relationship with legislators.” | “It is unfortunate to see the overreach in the rhetoric; these claims are absolutely baseless,” Moran said in an email. “Demagoguing lawmakers and misleading their constituents is not how to have a productive conversation on such a significant issue. Everyone expects candid and frank discussion, but this approach will damage their relationship with legislators.” |
| But Julian Walker, spokesman for the hospital association, said the risk to hospitals is real. | But Julian Walker, spokesman for the hospital association, said the risk to hospitals is real. |
| “Between unfunded mandates and growing funding cuts, Virginia’s local hospitals are already in a precarious position,” he said. “Under current conditions, many Virginia hospitals have struggled with negative operating margins in recent years. Those challenges are particularly pronounced in rural areas. Weakening COPN through wholesale or piecemeal repeal legislation would make the problem worse, risking hospital stability, our economy, and health-care access, particularly in rural communities.” | “Between unfunded mandates and growing funding cuts, Virginia’s local hospitals are already in a precarious position,” he said. “Under current conditions, many Virginia hospitals have struggled with negative operating margins in recent years. Those challenges are particularly pronounced in rural areas. Weakening COPN through wholesale or piecemeal repeal legislation would make the problem worse, risking hospital stability, our economy, and health-care access, particularly in rural communities.” |