WATSONVILLE — Hospital workers on Saturday began gathering signatures for an initiative they say would “rein in” costs at Watsonville Community Hospital.
Called the “Watsonville Accountable and Affordable Health Care Initiative,” the initiative, should it qualify for the Nov. 6, 2018 ballot and pass by voters, would prohibit WCH from charging more than 15 percent over what is considered the “reasonable cost of direct patient care.”
In the initiative, “reasonable” is defined as the costs directly associated with operating a medical facility, and providing care to patients.
Organizers must now collect 1,791 signatures for the measure to qualify for the ballot.
Service Employees International Union-United Healthcare Workers is leading the efforts. Members were joined by Watsonville Mayor Oscar Rios, City Councilmen Felipe Hernandez and Lowell Hurst, Monterey County Supervisor Luis Alejo and others in announcing the start of signature-gathering during a press conference at the Watsonville Civic Plaza.
Citing statistics gathered by the California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development, surgical tech Chris Gil said WCH, owned by Tennessee-based Quorum Health, charges on average about 40 percent more than Dominican Hospital in Santa Cruz. Patients in Watsonville pay about $45,000 for a routine baby delivery, compared to a little more than $27,000 at Dominican, according to the statistics.
“We can’t keep allowing this to happen,” he said. “People of this community shouldn’t be concerned about the cost at their local facility.”
WCH spokeswoman Cindy Weigelt called the ballot initiative a “waste of taxpayer dollars and a distraction from the true catalyst,” saying the union opposes the hospital’s request that SEIU-represented personnel “begin contributing to their health insurance at the same rate of participation as that of all other hospital employees.”
“We are disappointed in the union’s approach and their attempt to use this ballot measure as a bullying tactic to impact the outcome of contract negotiations,” she said. “We regret any distraction this may cause to our patients, employees and community members.”
Weigelt also pointed to costs listed on the California Healthcare Compare website, which gathers data from the California Department of Insurance. The website states the cost of childbirth at both WCH and Dominican ranges between $10,354 and $33,091.
“At the same time, reimbursement for our services continues to decline and is often below the actual cost of providing care,” she said.
