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Cancer hospital executive argues for exemption
CONCORD —In forceful and at times moving testimony, executives and supporters of Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) made the case to lawmakers at a hearing on Thursday about how locating a facility in New Hampshire could benefit the state and why they should pass a bill designed to encourage it to do so.
At issue is House Bill 1642, which would establish a “destination cancer hospital” category of business that would be exempt from the state's Certification of Need (CON) review for medical facilities, as well as the Medicaid Enhancement Tax.
The hearing, before the Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs Commitee, was a continuation of one that began on Tuesday, when representatives of major hospitals lined up to speak against the bill, largely on the grounds that it would give CTCA an unfair advantage and hurt their ability to care for the poor. Several lawmakers questioned why representatives from CTCA were not present at the hearing.
John M. McNeil, the president and chief executive officer of CTCA's center in Philadelphia, stressed that the company is in the “early stages of its due diligence,” but said the CON review process could potentially pose an insurmountable barrier.
“We feel the CON process is a significant barrier that is often used by existing providers as a way to protect their turf,” he said.
CTCA sought similar legislation in Georgia, where it is now building a facility. “That certainly made Georgia a more attractive place to be,” McNeil said.
Pressed if CTCA would be “in or out” if it had to go through the CON process, McNeil said, “In all likelihood, we'd probably be out.”
As for the Medicaid tax exemption, McNeil emphasized the charity work CTCA does in the communities where centers are located, such as the renovation and maintanence of an urban hospital in Philadelphia. He also noted that the company donated millions of dollars a year for cancer research.
McNeil also said that CTCA has a policy of not turning patients away if their economic circumstances change and they can no longer afford their insurance or are forced to go on Medicare, in which case the patient would be treated without reimbursement.
Still, McNeil's answers did not satisfy representatives of the major hospitals, health insurers, nor the Business and Industry Association of New Hampshire, who all testified against the bill.
“We don't think this is the right way for the state to promote economic development,” BIA Vice President David Juvet said. “We are very supportive of New Hampshire having a pro-business climate, and the Legislature has done a number of good things over the past year, but we would never support an effort to create what is an unfair business advantage.”
The most passionate testimony at the hearing came from Donna Wolfendale, a current CTCA patient who lives in Methuen, Mass. She said she reached out to the bill's main sponsor, Marilinda Garcia, R-Salem, after reading news reports about the company's interest in New Hampshire.
The 52-year-old mother of an adult son and daughter said she was diagnosed with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer last year. She said she went to CTCA in Philadelphia at the urging of a coworker who was familiar with CTCA from its commercials. “The first thing they did was give me hope,” she said. “It's not just the treatments. It's about the supplements, the diet, it's the whole mind, body and soul, it's the praying.”
Wolfendale said she completed 12 rounds of aggressive treatment in December and that the tumor in her panaceas is gone, but that there is still cancer in other parts of her body.
“I'm headed in the right direction. I can't tell you how much hope they've given me,” she said, adding, “I beg of you, please let this come to New Hampshire. It will benefit all of New England.”
Because of the volume of testimony, a planned executive session of the committee on the bill was postponed. A date for the session has not been scheduled.
At issue is House Bill 1642, which would establish a “destination cancer hospital” category of business that would be exempt from the state's Certification of Need (CON) review for medical facilities, as well as the Medicaid Enhancement Tax.
The hearing, before the Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs Commitee, was a continuation of one that began on Tuesday, when representatives of major hospitals lined up to speak against the bill, largely on the grounds that it would give CTCA an unfair advantage and hurt their ability to care for the poor. Several lawmakers questioned why representatives from CTCA were not present at the hearing.
John M. McNeil, the president and chief executive officer of CTCA's center in Philadelphia, stressed that the company is in the “early stages of its due diligence,” but said the CON review process could potentially pose an insurmountable barrier.
“We feel the CON process is a significant barrier that is often used by existing providers as a way to protect their turf,” he said.
CTCA sought similar legislation in Georgia, where it is now building a facility. “That certainly made Georgia a more attractive place to be,” McNeil said.
Pressed if CTCA would be “in or out” if it had to go through the CON process, McNeil said, “In all likelihood, we'd probably be out.”
As for the Medicaid tax exemption, McNeil emphasized the charity work CTCA does in the communities where centers are located, such as the renovation and maintanence of an urban hospital in Philadelphia. He also noted that the company donated millions of dollars a year for cancer research.
McNeil also said that CTCA has a policy of not turning patients away if their economic circumstances change and they can no longer afford their insurance or are forced to go on Medicare, in which case the patient would be treated without reimbursement.
Still, McNeil's answers did not satisfy representatives of the major hospitals, health insurers, nor the Business and Industry Association of New Hampshire, who all testified against the bill.
“We don't think this is the right way for the state to promote economic development,” BIA Vice President David Juvet said. “We are very supportive of New Hampshire having a pro-business climate, and the Legislature has done a number of good things over the past year, but we would never support an effort to create what is an unfair business advantage.”
The most passionate testimony at the hearing came from Donna Wolfendale, a current CTCA patient who lives in Methuen, Mass. She said she reached out to the bill's main sponsor, Marilinda Garcia, R-Salem, after reading news reports about the company's interest in New Hampshire.
The 52-year-old mother of an adult son and daughter said she was diagnosed with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer last year. She said she went to CTCA in Philadelphia at the urging of a coworker who was familiar with CTCA from its commercials. “The first thing they did was give me hope,” she said. “It's not just the treatments. It's about the supplements, the diet, it's the whole mind, body and soul, it's the praying.”
Wolfendale said she completed 12 rounds of aggressive treatment in December and that the tumor in her panaceas is gone, but that there is still cancer in other parts of her body.
“I'm headed in the right direction. I can't tell you how much hope they've given me,” she said, adding, “I beg of you, please let this come to New Hampshire. It will benefit all of New England.”
Because of the volume of testimony, a planned executive session of the committee on the bill was postponed. A date for the session has not been scheduled.