August 28, 2014 Meeting of West Bay Rotary

Mark Biscone, CEO, Waldo General Hospital, Interim CEO, Pen Bay Healthcare

Jim Patterson introduced Mark Biscone, the speaker today. Biscone has been CEO at WCGH since 1983.

His talk had the theme of “Where is healthcare today?” from a numbers perspective. He explained that for every $1 charged for healthcare expense, 60% of healthcare expense is covered by medicare or medicaid, and 45% is written off, leaving .55 for net revenue, which is then offset by 57% actual cost, which results in a negative $.02 net revenue. Heathcare is continuing to anticipate reductions in government funding. ACA's impact is just beginning to be felt locally, especially since Maine failed to expand medicaid coverage for many low-income Mainer's. There are also now 36 areas of quality that institutions must meet to avoid further reductions in reimbursement.

Maine's aging population will continue to bring more chronic conditions needing treatment. Telemedicine has a major impact on how healthcare is delivered, and Anthem is a participating insurer using doctors across the country to address patient needs locally, diverting revenues out of state in a competitive market.

The number of acute care hospitals in Maine will continue to reduce, currently at 36, down from 50 in the late 1970's. Collaboration, regionalization, standardization are all being used to create higher quality and lower cost care and keep specialists employed with an appropriate economy of scale.

Rotary Information was presented by Terry Bregy, about banners and the clubs represented by visiting Rotarians, and brought back by traveling Rotarians from West Bay returning from trips with banners of the clubs they have visited. The first banner produced for West Bay was not in conformance with RI rules that do not allow adding compass points (or anything else) to the Rotary logo, the Rotary wheel.

Union's Knox County Sunrise club held it's first fundraiser at the Union Fair last week. The club, which is a satellite of West Bay. Ken Gardiner's was the winning ticket. The club meets at the Union Masonic Hall on Tuesdays at 7:30a.

Windjammer Festival is this weekend. The Chowder Challenge is Saturday. Mark still need volunteers to help pick up and serve chowder. 8:30a Friday is tent set-up, and all are welcome to come lend a hand. Monday morning the tent will be taken down. There will be a Shelter Box at the show with Interact helping with that display. Ken Gardiner is still collecting sponsorships at the $50 and $100 levels. Our inbound exchange student from Japan will be there, too.

EREY was presented by Jane Lafleur and spoke about the annual fund, which supports programs in over 200 geographic regions. She recognized those who have made contributions to EREY.

Barbara Heard is circulating a sign-up for theTriple Nickle Rally, Poker Run and Dinner.

The Board meets at 7a at Anderson Inn, Quarry Hill, on the first Wednesday. Please let President Tim know if you would like to attend. All club members are welcome.

Next week's speaker is Troy Curtis, Executive Director of the YMCA.