Commissioner Lynne Lang told a forum Friday afternoon that she couldn't predict when it would be necessary, but said, "We can stay independent for quite some time...meaning months," She said that, "If Obamacare is stopped, it's not so urgent."
Lang's opponent, Warren Tessler, said that, "It is almost impossible to answer the question," of how long the hospital can stay independent. Tessler pointed out that the hospital operates on a very thin line and that the economics of scale point to an affiliation.
Hospital affiliation was the major topic at a League of Women Voters forum at the Senior Center attended by about two-dozen people.
Both candidates said many issues are driving the public hospital to affiliating with a larger institution, including requirements that come along with the Affordable Care Act, decreasing reimbursements by Medicare and Medicaid, and moving medical records to computer systems.
The issue of initiative 522, coming up on the statewide November ballot, was brought up. I-522 would require labeling of Genetically modified foods under most circumstances.
Both Tessler and Lang agreed that the issue is more political than health-related at this time. Tessler said we all want to know the results of genetically-modified foods. He added, "I stay away from GM. I don't want to take any chances."
Lang, who is currently on the hospital board, said, "I haven't seen anything to make it a health issue, yet."
Ballots should be in the mail next week. The election is Nov. 5.