Former Southeast Health CEO on Local Amendment 1

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Posted by: RStokes
Date: Oct 29 2024 2:32 PM

The attached letter was provided by Ronald Owen, former CEO for Southeast Health for distribution. He shared it on his personal social media earlier today and has provided permission for it to be shared with the media. 

Perspectives on Local Amendment 1
by Ronald S. Owen

 

As Election Day approaches on Tuesday, November 5, there has been much debate surrounding Amendment 1 and how appointments are made to the Houston County Health Care Authority. As CEO of Southeast Health from 1997 to 2016, I have a unique perspective on the board and the appointment process.
 
First, I applaud Dr. Walter Young and Dr. Donavon Wewers for penning recent letters that were right on target opposing Amendment 1. I also join them in my opposition to Amendment 1 and respectively request Houston County residents vote “NO” on Election Day.
 
Winston Churchill once stated, “Those that fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it”. I fear if Amendment 1 passes, we will find ourselves repeating history by setting back the board appointment process for Southeast Health prior to the 1982 Alabama Health Care Authorities Act.
 
Prior to the 1982 Authorities Act, community-owned hospital boards in Alabama were appointed by city and/or county commissioners. The process was rife with potential corruption as appointments on the hospital boards could become political favors.
 
The passing of the 1982 Authorities Act established a more level playing field for not-for-profit hospitals by exempting them from certain laws. Additionally, it addressed the process of appointing members to serve on hospital boards. There currently are approximately 35 Alabama hospitals operating under the act. Incidentally, if Amendment 1 passes, we would not be following the appointment process set out by the 1982 legislation.
 
In May 1988, Southeast Health reincorporated under the 1982 Alabama Health Care Authorities Act, which established a new system of appointing board members and it also added a 13th member. The 13th member would always be the current president of the medical staff, thus ensuring physicians would be represented on the board.
 
The current appointment process under the authorities’ act provides a check and balance system to protect county commissioners from making political appointments that could result in state ethics violations.
 
The way it works now is the hospital board vets three names for each commission district as potential board members. The commissioner from each district selects the person of his choice for approval.
 
Essentially, the county commission rubber stamps the name submitted by each commissioner. At least for now, the potential board member is vetted by the hospital board before being submitted to the county commissioner. Keep in mind, if the commissioner doesn’t want to reappoint the incumbent to the board, there are two other names to choose from on the list.
 
If Amendment 1 passes, the hospital board will have no input on who the commissioner appoints. I personally don’t believe we want one county commissioner having sole control over who serves on the hospital board.

During my almost 20 years at Southeast Health, I worked with some of the finest men and women who served on the Houston County Health Care Authority. I also enjoyed a good relationship with the Houston County Commission. As I reflect on my years at the hospital, the best board members are those who have good business sense, who have a heart for the community and time to serve, and who have the best healthcare interest of all citizens. Medical experience is not required to be a good board member.
 
In closing, I urge you to vote “NO” on amendment 1 on Nov. 5. We don’t need to go back in time. I also encourage you not to cast your vote based on personalities. Our healthcare system is bigger than any one person.
 
Respectfully,

Ronald S. Owen

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