Sanford Health is giving Northern State University two million dollars to recruit more young gladiators for our entertainment. NSU is thus throwing Avera Health overboard in favor of Sanford as its exclusive sports medicine provider.
My local paper says this new deal is great for Wolves fans, but the single most important line in this morning’s editorial is the last one:
Maybe the upside for Avera Health is that it is left with more money to put toward helping patients [editorial, “With NSU, Sanford Partnership, Fans Are the Winners,” Aberdeen American News, 2015.08.23].
Every penny Sanford spends on sports is a penny they could have chosen not to charge you for your stitches or your appendectomy.
Someone please explain, unless a company is charging less to provide the service than the actual cost of providing the service, how is losing business good for a company?
Is this another example of the State of SD moving toward Sanford? The state employee health plan was changed to Sanford a year ago. State employees in two towns with lots of state employees and only Avera hospitals, Pierre and Brookings, weren’t too happy about that change.
You nailed it Cory. They all claim to be benevolent to the communities they serve, kind of like Pheasants feel when you blast them in the paid for hunts. The insurance companies provide huge trips and incentives for peddling their very expensive products while doing their damnedest to deny claims for goods and services. Insurance companies like Sanford are really nothing more than payday loan operations. The State of South Dakota regulates this motley bunch and should crack down on all things that do not relate to the care of the insureds. The premium collected should go for claims as regulated. 80% is what the law reads. The 20% remainder should not include the 2 million for buying a block of business to eliminate competition.
Cory
You nailed this one. Same at South Dakota State.
That’s okay. Someday they’ll change the name of Sioux Falls to Sanford Falls, and they’ll say that they’re doing it because the old name was disturbing to Native Americans. But we’ll all know the real reason why.
How much of the 2 million, if any, is from donations?
It is all from donations, they are called policyholders in this scam to purchase a block of business and eliminate competition. This is the new American tradition of capitalism. Do not compete, just purchase your way for the business to eliminate it. I will make you an offer you cannot refuse, is made to sound familiar.
Is there a Sanford clinic in Aberdeen? Same day surgical center? Do they use St.Luke’s? (Is St. Luke’s the same as Avera? I haven’t used the Aberdeen hospital in decades, obviously.)
Deb, there is a Sanford Clinic. I think Sanford also does surgery, although I don’t want to find out. I don’t like any hospitals.
Sam2, yes, the Sanford press release says Sanford is supporting sports at NSU, SDSU, USD, NDSU, and Augustana. Be sure to ask your doctor to itemize the amount of your next check-up bill that goes to pay tuition for football players.
JeniW, I don’t see any distinction made in the Sanford press release as to the source of the money. It’s described simply as a corporate gift from Sanford Health to NSU. Unless someone shows me otherwise, I have to assume that money is thus coming from my family’s medical bills.
If Avera weren’t so darned Catholic (i.e., refusing to recognize my wife’s and daughter’s equal status as citizens and autonomous human beings), I might have to switch my medical business to Avera. But for now, I’ll just focus on eating more strawberries and not contributing to either facility’s slush funds.
Cory, you don’t like any hospital?
There is never a good reason to go to a hospital, but some hospitals can still be trustworthy with your health, such as my local hospital, Winner Regional Healthcare Center. I had surgery there last year, and for all intents and purposes, the surgery itself went without a hitch and I was back on my feet in about a week. WRHC are partners with Sanford, though not owned by them. WRHC is still locally owned and operated I believe.
The downside is the cost, which is still as expensive as any other hospital. I didn’t have to pay the bill in full since I’m on Medicare, but for people who aren’t, the bill can set people back.
One should never end up in a hospital, and it’s never a pleasant experience, but I wouldn’t be worried about getting emergency care at WRHC. In fact, WRHC should drop Sanford and partner with Avera. At least Avera doesn’t plaster it’s name on everything like Sanford does, to my knowledge.
Well, at least WRHC isn’t spending your money on sports scholarships.
And even though WRHC makes money on school athlete’s injuries and tests, the administrator opposes the idiotic 4th school $3.5 million auxiliary gymnasium.
I, however, do not understand why medicare/medicaid and insurers don’t raise hell about Sanford dumping money into athletics and related facilities, ads, etc.
Cory, you will probably have your blog banned at Sanford just like poor old Dakota Today.
Cory, you think there’s any chance Sanford Health claims at least some of this as a tax deduction, given that it advances the health system’s “community benefit” mission?
If so, couldn’t that theoretically eliminate the need to increase patients’ costs?