While the bill proposes to bring health care coverage to all Mainers, it does so at the cost of the smaller institutions, Murray told the board.

Specifically, the plan would cut hospital budgets by $750,000,000, an amount that encompasses the cumulative budgets for 24 of the 38 hospitals in the state, Murray explained. Of those 38 hospitals, Maine Medical Center in Portland is the largest and CAD is the smallest, he noted.

A second measure of the plan would cap all budget increases at 3 percent. This would be an impossible goal to meet, Murray said, noting that the medical consumer price index ranges from 9 to 12 percent a year.

Despite these strict budget caps and deep cuts, proponents say the bill will not cause hospital closures. Hospital officials are not so sure.

"We cannot live with 3 percent. We have no control over many areas, such as pharmacy costs, staffing, and unanticipated, unfounded mandates," Murray said.

"We are a bare-bones institution right now," Murray continued, noting that CAD now employs 150 people, 85 full-time. It also employs 40-45 students, he said.

Agreeing with Murray's analysis, the Board of Selectmen voted to sign a letter to Gov. Baldacci, urging him to reconsider the terms of his plan.

"By containing costs for all hospitals, and realigning the services offered by hospitals statewide, we are concerned that our local hospital -Charles A. Dean Memorial Hospital - would close," selectmen said in the letter.

"If our local hospital - which is also our largest employer - were to close, the Town of Greenville would suffer great economic losses," the letter said.

"We strongly urge you to look closely at the issues...to ensure that long-needed health care reform does not come at the expense of rural Maine communities," the letter concluded.

Selectmen voted 4-0 to sign the letter. Earl Richardson was absent.
"This content originally appeared as a copyrighted article in the Moosehead Messenger and is used here with permission."