Austin runs for hospital district board

May 06, 2008 04:27 pm

— Galen Scott
gscott@weatherforddemocrat.com
According to James Austin, Parker County’s ambulance service could be posting better response times and the Campbell Clinic could be helping more people.
Austin, 61, is running for the Precinct 2 seat on the Parker County Hospital District’s seven-member board of directors. Currently, Austin directs the pharmacy technician program at Weatherford College.
“I want to see the best healthcare delivery system for the community and I want to see the most positive use of taxpayer dollars,” Austin said. “Those are my reasons for running.”
When the district voted to lease Campbell Health System to a private hospital operator in November 2006, the board’s primary responsibilities diminished to include two operations: the Campbell Clinic and LifeCare, the county’s EMS provider.
Directors have about $50 million with which to fund LifeCare and the clinic. However, a large portion of the lease windfall is redirected back to CHS by way of sliding, yearly indigent care reimbursements.
Because of this provision in the least contract, countywide hospital taxes implemented when the district was established remain in place today.
Austin wants the district to develop a long-term plan for revenue.
“What I would like to see — and I think this may be in the long-range planning stage already — is what are we going to use that $50 million for, as it applies to the community,” he said.
Austin said he is under the impression that hospital taxes amount to about twice the amount EMS operations require. For that reason, he favors additional funding to expand LifeCare and improve response times.
As for the clinic, expanding is necessary in order to address large populations of uninsured people in Parker County.
“If you look at the number of uninsured people who aren’t covered by Medicare or Medicaid, and the underinsured working population, that’s an area of concern,” Austin said.
Earlier this year, district directors briefly considered outsourcing LifeCare, and maybe, the clinic too.
“I have very strong feelings about non-profit versus profit in the healthcare sector. I definitely favor non-profit,” Austin said. “From what I know at the moment, I would not be in favor of outsourcing the clinic or EMS under any circumstances.”
The incumbent Precinct 2 representative, J. Seven Welch, has served on the district board of directors since before the Campbell Health System was privatized. Welch, a former chemist born and raised in Weatherford, is the only local, practicing physician on the board.
Early voting for the hospital district election ended Tuesday.
Residents living in the northwest quadrant (Precinct 2) of Parker County will be presented ballots containing a choice between Welch and Austin on Election Day, May 10.