Stop looking for villain (letter to the editor)

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, January 14, 2007

As the Journal Sentinel Editorial Board again obsesses over Aurora Health Care's planned hospital in western Waukesha County ("Aurora should keep its pledge," Jan. 10), here's a long overdue message for the board: Wake up! Look around.

New hospital construction is either under way or planned in every corner of the metro Milwaukee area. The Aurora project is just one of at least seven major developments. If the board is so concerned about alleged excess bed capacity, why not speak out about these other projects as well?

Furthermore, at least three of these projects are costly expansions of existing facilities. Aurora's Town of Summit hospital will be large enough that expansion will not be needed soon, if ever. Given that construction costs never seem to go down, doesn't this make Aurora's plans forward-looking rather than excessive?

The Editorial Board is concerned about high health care costs, a complex and multifaceted issue. Interestingly, its writers were correct a month ago when they identified low Medicaid reimbursement rates as part of the problem. It's one of many factors.

Simply put, there is no one villain to blame, no matter how many editorials might seem to point at one.

Rick Moon
Brookfield