Image Credit: KaringHeartsCardiology.com
The Tennessee Conservative [By Jason Vaughn] –
According to our source, Ballad Health Care, who runs a monopoly as the sole healthcare provider in some areas of the state, is now actively blocking Certificates of Need (CONs) which means competition is not being allowed to enter the market.
Recently, cardiologist Dr. Jeff Schoondyke has been attempting to open a Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory in the area but has been denied up until this point.
Today is Dr. Jeff Schoondyke’s Certificate of Need hearing. The hearing starts at 9AM Central Time, September 28th. Meeting Packet available HERE.
Danielle Goodrich, Tricities Area Director of Tennessee Stands, says, “No business should have to prove to the government, they should be able to enter a free market.”
Goodrich says, “Healthcare should have to answer to us, the consumer. Competition and who provides the best service and best product, determined by the consumer, should be what decides who wins the business not the government and a monopolized health system. That is very much communist and against the free and fair market.”
She goes on to state, “Our Republican legislators should be against such a thing too but we know often they pick party allegiance over principles. Corporate interests over the people.”
Tennessee Stands submitted hundreds of letters of support for Karing Hearts Cardiology and their Cath lab. Today we will find out if the Republican majority will listen to the monopoly and corporate interests or the people.
Hearing schedule and details HERE.
Suggestions for the letter included:
• Based on your experience, you would like to see…
• Improved access and availability to necessary services and procedures
• A choice regarding your healthcare
• Lower cost options for necessary services and procedures
“As Republicans we must stand against this type of authoritarian and tyrannical power. We must dissolve this COPA. Return the power to the people as it says in the party platform. Stand against unelected, unaccountable government as health departments, health officers, and CEOs of healthcare monopolies became unelected policy makers. We must return it to a free-market system and allow competition to regulate the market. Not the government and a healthcare monopoly. We must allow the consumer to pick the winners and losers. We must walk it back to capitalism and away from socialism,” Goodrich said.
More on Ballad Health’s monopoly HERE.
About the Author: Jason Vaughn, Media Coordinator for The Tennessee Conservative ~ Jason previously worked for a legacy publishing company based in Crossville, TN in a variety of roles through his career. Most recently, he served as Deputy Director for their flagship publication. Prior, he was a freelance journalist writing articles that appeared in the Herald Citizen, the Crossville Chronicle and The Oracle among others. He graduated from Tennessee Technological University with a Bachelor’s in English-Journalism, with minors in Broadcast Journalism and History. Contact Jason at news@TennesseeConservativeNews.com
One Response
Balad Health Monopoly in JohnsonCity and surrounding areas need to be Stopped. Everybody seen this coming including the politicians on the Balad Payroll?? The Free Market will determine the need not some idiot board!!