Let me clarify
a few things
Dear Editor:
A recent article about Phelps County Regional Medical Center’s (PCRMC) termination of its contract with Mercy Health Plan (Premier) and a subsequent letter by Dr. Randall Huss requires some clarification.   I was quoted as saying that PCRMC “wants nothing to do with St. John’s”.   This statement needs further explanation.  We value all the doctors on staff at Phelps County Regional Medical Center, including those who are members of the St. John’s system and we appreciate the contribution they make to our hospital and the patient care they provide to the community.   Because we value all of the doctors on staff , when PCRMC hires doctors, we do not insist on a “no compete” clause in their contract.  If they later choose to leave the PCRMC system, we hope they will stay in the community and continue to be a part of the local medical system.   Regrettably, over the years, several St. John’s doctors and their families have been forced to leave the community when they no longer wanted to be employed by St. Johns because of the “no compete” clause in their contract.
The Board and Administration of PCRMC chose to terminate its contract with Mercy-Premier because they refuse to allow non-St. John’s doctors, with few exceptions,  to be part of the provider panel in their health plan.  Dr. Huss, commenting on the termination of the contract, said there were 32 non-St. John’s employed physicians who have offices in Rolla that are part of the Mercy-Premier provider network.  Who are they?   All the doctors on staff at PCRMC are qualified to be preferred providers under the Mercy-Premier Health Plan and not allowing them to do that limits patient choice.  Upon examination of the provider panel, it is immediately apparent that all of the Family Practice, Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, OB/GYN, General Surgery, Orthopedic Surgery, and Medical Oncology physicians are employed by St. John’s.  Other physicians have effectively been declined participation or dropped.  Employing and controlling the primary care specialties allows them to effectively control and direct patient access to other specialists.
PCRMC’s contract with Mercy-Premier, which will expire at the end of this year, gives Mercy a large discount on their patient bills at the hospital.  As your article pointed out, PCRMC and St. John’s are in competition.  We are not against competition; we welcome it because it can save money for the consumer and improve quality of care. But what business can continue to compete while granting their direct competitor such a financial advantage. 
I want to point out that every Mercy-Premier Health Plan participant will be able to continue to receive services at the hospital after the contract is terminated.  PCRMC has never turned away a patient who needed treatment because they did or did not have a particular health insurance plan or whether or not they had the ability to pay.  We will continue to treat all those in need and will honor whatever Mercy-Premier decides to cover for their participants.
It is important to understand there is an inherent conflict between an entity that owns and operates physician clinics and hospitals and a company that sells health insurance.  The entity  that operates hospitals and physician clinics, within the Code of Medical Ethics and the applicable standards of care, derive revenue by providing care and treatment to the sick and injured. However, the health insurance company loses money when the patient receives care or treatment for which it is obligated to pay.  In the same way your car insurance company loses money if you have an accident or your home insurance provider loses money if you have a fire at your house.
In his letter Dr. Huss discussed the benefits of a “vertically integrated health system”.  Admittedly, such a system can be convenient for patients but can also create an inherent conflict of interest and ultimately be more expensive.  We believe part of the income of St. John’s doctors is derived from procedures, imaging studies and lab tests they direct to their own facilities, so there may be a direct incentive to send them to their own facilities, or order more tests, x-rays, etc.  PCRMC does not require the doctors employed by the PCRMC Medical Group to direct patients for treatment or tests to PCRMC.  We hope they will because we believe PCRMC’s services are the best available. But patients of the physicians in the PCRMC Medical Group can rest assured that these doctors do not receive additional income from doing so.  Patients need to know that no matter what test or procedure your doctor may order, it is your choice, and yours alone, where that test, procedure or x-ray is performed.
The PCRMC Board of Trustees and Administration have a fiduciary responsibility to keep the institution fiscally sound.  PCRMC does not receive taxpayer dollars and relies solely on revenue from patient services to be able to operate the hospital, including those services such as the emergency department, ambulance service, psychiatric services, maternity services and the SMILE Mobile, which do not pay for themselves but are necessary to the health of the community.
As we move forward, PCRMC will continue to provide quality, compassionate care to the people in our six-county service area.  Our medical staff members that are employed by St. Johns will continue to be a valued part of our hospital and will continue to be treated as such.

Sincerely,
— John Denbo,
Chief Executive Officer,
PCRMC

Congratulations
to ball players
Letter to the Editor
Hats off or should I say ball caps off to the Mid-Mo Stealers and coaches for a great summer of entertaining baseball: Isaac Arthur, Alec Falkenhain, Klayton Garner, Trent Mahaney, River McCann, Stewart Meusch, Tristen O’Neal, Sam Remillard, and Zach Studdard.  Coaches: Jeremy Arthur, Shawn O’Neal, Jim Remillard, and Robert Studdard. 
This group of young athletes of the 10-U competitive league from Rolla finished their season with an overall record of 30-6.  The team also went 15-0 in the league.  They finished first in two tournaments and second in three. They finished a great season by taking first place in the 10-U USSSA tournament held at Nelson Hart Park. The Mid-Mo Stealers also earned the opportunity to participate in the Field of Dreams on Rolla Night at the Springfield Cardinals game.  The boys got to take the field at the positions they play and received signed baseballs from the players.
Thanks to these boys and coaches for showing great sportsmanship through some of the hottest evenings of the summer. As grandparents, we saw the support of moms, dads, sisters, brothers, friends, and other grandparents that came out evening after evening and traveled to out of town games to sit in lawn chairs and bleachers in the hot sun and cool evenings to cheer these boys on in victory and defeat. 
Yes, Rolla is a great place to live and provides opportunities like this for boys to be boys and enjoy the great summer pastime of baseball.
Tristen’s Proud Grandparents
— Jewel and Norma Harris