We cannot fix the problems with health care with a shock-and-awe model. We need to take baby steps and work collaboratively.

…like most employers, any decision the school system makes for our teachers and staff keeps these valued employees at the center. We carefully study and engage in conversations with experts before moving forward. I believe all state employees deserve this kind of consideration and urge North Carolina elected officials to take the time to thoughtfully consider and study any changes made to the State Health Plan.

It is poor governance to allow decisions of such magnitude to be made in a vacuum, and without consideration of the unintended, negative consequences.

Rural hospitals are on the margins. There would be some that would stand to lose in this, and I’ve made no secret that part of my role down here that I see is to protect rural health care.

When I think of the impact this will have on our community and our (hospital) staff, I see community members threatened medically due to loss of services and see the livelihood of our staff threatened.

I think it’s a myopic approach that has been taken. At the end of the day, I think it would be an enormous benefit if cooler minds ask to take a step back and look at it from a greater approach of how do we deliver health care and bring in stakeholders to this process so we can have a more comprehensive approach.

There will need to be some compromise and I am still gathering as much information as I can to be a better informed legislator. This will help me make the best decision possible for our region, the taxpayers and the businesses that have made a significant investment in our rural communities.

We want a plan that we’re involved in creating — not a plan that is imposed upon us that we have to respond to. We want a collaborative resolution that supports our communities in a sustainable way.

…the approach that is being put forth by the state treasurer really seeks only to sort of change unit pricing. It has no long-term impact on the underlying driver of escalating costs, which is poor health status…
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We have a large number of state employees in Burke County who rely on our services, and we’re concerned this plan will give them less options. In the everchanging healthcare landscape, sustaining the quality and availability of healthcare provided to this community is our number one goal.

The treasurer, he needs to take time to come to eastern North Carolina and spend time here and get to know the issue before he makes a decision. We need to recognize and no longer sit home and complain.

Improving the health of the communities where we live and work is the collective mission of North Carolina’s hospitals and health systems. Creating a stronger, more sustainable state health plan is an important task that requires engagement from all parties involved.
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Health systems have a duty to care for every patient. As an elected official, the treasurer has a duty to serve every citizen of North Carolina. If his proposal is enacted, it will compromise our ability to provide essential services — and people who live in rural markets will be impacted most.