I received an email today from an Emory University doctor expressing support for my Senate Resolution 748 concerning Grady’s employee health benefits plan. He writes:

I have been based at Grady for 11 years as a trauma surgeon. About 8 years ago, a close friend of mine and who was a full-time Grady paramedic (and had health insurance through Grady), was involved in a serious motor vehicle crash and was admitted to the trauma service at North Fulton Hospital (closest trauma center to the site of his crash). When I explored the possibility of having him transferred to Grady, I was shocked to learn that Grady didn’t take his insurance — despite the fact that he was insured through Grady. How absurd! I believe this has since changed… but there is good reason to encourage Grady employees to seek care there.

My resolution points out that Grady’s financial problems stem in large part from a patient mix that is devoid of insured or paying patients and urges Grady to encourage its own employees to use the hospital. Obviously, we need to first make sure that Grady accepts its own insurance. But lower co-pays or deductibles to encourage employee utilization is the logical and next step.

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