Andy Resnick Strikes Again

The campaign manager who ran a campaign of calling Jim Webb a racist, a sexist and an anti-semite (IN A DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY) is back at his old tricks again.  TC has the scoop.

Comments

who called warner a rat?

who called warner's campaign racist?

who is sending out sexist mailers against male candidates?

Ben, who do you get along with? It seems like this entire blog has turned into some personal vendetta hitlist ala creepy guy from Billy Madison.

Who can trust this guy after he defamed Jim Webb?

[Loudoun Insider]

Apparently INOVA trusts him enough to put him out front on PR matters.

[Anonymous Is A Woman]

Based on the link, it's hard to know what this dust up with INOVA is all about.

It's a poorly explained story. Unless you read TC all the time, or are involved with Loudoun County issues, it's really difficult to pick up from any of this what exactly the controversy is all about.

I will say one thing. If it's about a rivalry between INOVA and HCA (Hospital Corps of America), Andy Resnick not withstanding, I'm taking INOVA's side.

A moment of full disclosure. My husband was at INOVA Hospital in Fairfax back in 1994-95 for treatment of non-Hodgkins lymphoma. He was Stage 4. His doctor tried a then experimental procedure, bone marrow transplant, which put his cancer into remission for 13 years - he's considered cured.

His care was excellent. I've seen other hospitals and the difference was tangible. I credit both Dan's doctors and the excellent nursing staff on INOVA's cancer ward with saving my husband's life.

INOVA also is a non profit hospital and health care system.

HCA, on the other hand, is the largest corporate for profit health care provider in the nation. None of that discredits the quality of its care.

But it was started by the family of former Senate leader Bill Frist of Tennessee, who is himself a doctor.

Dr. Frist sold his shares in the corporation in 2006 ostensibly to avoid any conflict of interest, but it caused a minor scandal because of the timing of the sale. Frist sold his shares just before it became public knowledge that HCA had experienced a drop in profit, which led to the price of its stock dropping. Frist managed to unload his stock before it was devalued and then got to claim the high road.

HCA has been trying to get a toe hold in Northern Virginia for years. If that's what's behind this kerfuffle, I'm not sure I'd jump on the bandwagon to support HCA.

I don't think their for profit brand of care is as good for Northern Virginia as INOVA is. Again, I don't care if Andy Resnick is in charge of their publicity.

That's as relevant as Bill Frist's involvement in HCA, which may be why some Republicans are jumping up and down to support HCA.

A more important issue is whether we want and need for profit, corporate health care right now.

[Loudoun Insider]

AIAW, it is true - there is waaaaay too much to this story to fully explain in the latest posts. The Loudoun Good Old Boy Network is intimately tied in to INOVA, which acquired Loudoun Hospital. This involves the elites of both parties.

INOVA may be non-profit on paper, but lately they're acting like a predatory monopoly. They have gotten in bed with some of the most vile of operators in Loudoun politics and it has negatively affected their public perception.

Sure, they would presumably have a leg up over a conglomerate like HCA, but they have shot themselves in the foot over and over again with bone-headed campaigns of deceipt and sleight of hand. I had no interest in getting in the middle of this controversy until INOVA started acting like Gerry Connolly. Now I am totally behind letting HCA join the fray to provide much needed competition.

[Not Jack Herrity]

AIAW, if INOVA is "non-profit," then I'm the King of Prussia. "Non-profit" hospitals are the biggest joke going - in reality, some of them turn bigger profits than their for-profit competitors. The only difference between for-profit and non-profit health care is that the non-profit boys don't pay taxes.

Can you tell me one tangible difference between the care a person receives at a for-profit facility versus a non-profit facility? In all the time I've spent at INOVA facilities and Reston Hospital, I'm trying to figure out one difference. They charge me the same amount and give me the same quality of care. And they both are required to treat the uninsured. Where is the difference?

NJH

[Loudoun Insider]

NJH, one of the big differences is the prohibition on political activities by non-profits. In my opinion INOVA is treading on thin ice in this regard. Even hiring Resnick in the first place is close to the edge.

[red herring]

that is truly a blessing AIAW, but what in the world does that have to do with Andy Resnick? this is about local politics and jockeying on the Board, not about a hospital or any single matter.

I'll definitely agree with AIAW. As someone who's lived around the Roanoke Valley for a good chunk of their life, I can tell you that people will gladly go to hospitals that aren't owned by HCA.

And this "they sure don't act like a non-profit" thing is bullshit. Trust me, if you've dealt with doctors in a true, blue for-profit health corporation, you'll be able to see the difference CLEARLY. But it's gotta be more than checking out hemorrhoids and strep throats.

Ben is interested in hospitals becausen he is one sick puppy!

[Len]

Ben is interested in hospitals and this story because he will eventually need gastric bypass surgery and he'll need a good doctor.

[Anonymous Is A Woman]

The difference between a non profit and a for profit has nothing to do with how much money they make.

A for profit, private company, exists solely to make money for its owners, boards of directors and investors.

A non profit exists for the benefit of the community, usually to provide a charity or valuable public service.

In reality, it's mostly a tax distinction as non profits are tax exempt whereas for profit corporations are taxed on their profits.

But because of their tax exempt status, not for profits are more accountable to the general public because they must provide public disclosure of items such as their highest paid employees and they can't keep profits. Instead, any earnings they make must be used for salaries to employees or for other expenses to improve their operations including research and development. That's why many of the best teaching hospitals and those that do medical research are non profits.

For profit hospitals often provide excellent care - I won't cast any aspersions there, but their main responsibility is to distribute profit to their investors.

I think that does influence quality of care somewhat. At the very least, the next breakthrough in cancer treatment or heart disease treatment will probably come from a teaching hospital or other non profit, if not from the NIH.

That's why it's so important to keep these non profit centers, which operate in the public, rather than private, interest.

That supersedes politics. If you don't like the good old boys, vote them out of office. But don't take it out on a fine non profit organization.

BTW, INOVA has done some very fine cutting edge work in cancer and heart disease treatment. Again, when my husband received his bone marrow transplant it was considered experimental treatment. Now it's not only commonplace, but almost obsolete as INOVA has pioneered newer and better treatment.

Insider give me a break. HCA did give money to political candidates in Loudoun; they just gave it through a third entity by the name of Voters for Loudoun's Future. In addition HCA gave large amounts in-kind contributions directly to candidates. I don't have a dog in the HCA - INOVA fight but to say that HCA did not get financially involved in the local election is just bogus, and you of all people know it. And don’t start talking about how “small” the amount of money contributed was. Small or large, they gave it and we all know how and why. Really you have to stop acting like you are the only person in Loudoun who knows what the heck is going on. HCA did not even try to hide the fact they were contributing to Supervisor candidates through VLF, it was not a secret. I can say of HCA they spent their money well, all but one of the hopeful candidates they contributed to were elected. They should get their moneys worth out of this BOS

[BlackOut]

More background in this insightful article: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121098143878500177.html

[red herring]

AIWA, Inova is a great system. it has treated my family very well, that IS NOT THE POINT of this posting or the wider issue here. According to the link BlackOut provided "This has allowed it [Inova] to grow into a company with revenues of $2 billion a year, with comfortable operating margins and a chokehold on the local market." A non-profit making $2B! Wow, no wonder they have money to waste on harsh political ads in every County newspaper and Resnick has time to monkey with the system.

[Loudoun Insider]

Anon, I said absolutely nothing about HCA and their political donations. Of course I know they contributed to candidates through third parties. The big difference is that HCA as a for-profit corporation does not have the same restrictions on political involvement that INOVA, as a "non-profit", has.

Like I said earlier, INOVA would have a huge PR advantage if they weren't tied in with the scummiest of political operatives in the county. They have totally negated their inherent PR advantage as a local non-profit with their below the belt tactics. They have no one else to blame for their current predicament other than themselves. They have sullied themselves by laying down with swine in the muck.

aiaw,

Thank God for your husband’s success. Having recently battled that evil disease it is always good to hear stories that include the word “cure”. God, willing I look forward to hearing that word myself in a few years.

I have had either first hand or family experience with both hospital groups and although both suffer from the same issues (personnel shortages), they both seem to do pretty well.

I wish that they both were not so selfish in keeping out more facilities in some of the growing areas of VA where people need to travel long distances to be provided care.

Inova Fairfax Hospital is a wonderful hospital and I am thankful that the Fairfax area has it. Fair Oaks is a pretty good hospital as well. The Inova Loudoun hospital has a long way to go before I would describe it as a good hospital. But none of that is what this is about anyway.

Inova is supposed to be non-profit even though they make a fortune. They make more money as a nonprofit than Reston Hospital does as a profit hospital. Inova does not pay any taxes on that profit. And as a non-profit they are not supposed to enter the political scene.

There have been countless articles in the Wash Post regarding Inova's use of strong arm tactics against any level of competitor. Even a small x-ray business in Fairfax. Inova squashed them like a bug.

Now Inova hires a known political operative to attack the COPN approved hospital in Broadlands. Inova's tactics have been improper and unethical. I've seen newspapers ads that have made my mouth drop in dismay at the lies and spin. They use fear tactics as well. They have embarrassed me. Frankly, I never would have guessed they would play this dirty.

And now Inova has been found in violation of the monopoly federal laws and are facing a hearing. They are being ordered not to continue the merger with Prince William hospital. The Attorney General's office of Virginia is joining the Federal Government in that motion.

It is time for Inova to allow a little competition into the scene. Frankly, it would be best for them as well - in more ways that one.

Also, Inova needs to review what tactics they use when they enter this kind of contest would do much to earn my - and countless others - respect again.

Come on Inova. Make me proud of you again.

[Anonymous Is A Woman]

The problem is once HCA, a corporate giant, comes into an area, it too sucks out all the competition. This is not a little mom and pop operation, as some would like to portray it. See this link:

http://www.uow.edu.au/arts/sts/bmartin/dissent/documents/health/columb_cult.html

The issue isn't whether a non profit earns more revenue than a for profit, it's what they do with the revenue. A for profit corporation has to distribute profits to its shareholders and its first responsibility is to its investors not the public.

That is not true of a non profit, which is more accountable to the public and the community. That's the reason for its tax exempt status.

Further, HCA is an extremely politically well connected corporation - its founder is the father of the former Senate majority leader, Bill Frist.

More important, would you rather have a local non profit organization or a for profit, Tennessee based corporation providing health care in Virginia?

As for the Republican Attorney General getting involved in a corporation owned by Republicans, how is that not political too?

Andy Resnick vs the Frists - please don't be naive.