D.C. Health Department’s Takeover of Indigent Care System Might Not Be Worse than Alternative, Editorial Says

Although the Washington, D.C., Department of Health Nov. 26 said the D.C. Healthcare Alliance, the city's privatized indigent health care system, was "just hunky-dory," the department said Dec. 5 that it will take over control of the system -- a "fast" change of plans, according to a Washington Post editorial (Washington Post, 12/6). Greater Southeast Community Hospital, the primary facility for people in the system who require hospitalization or trauma care, filed for bankruptcy last month after its parent company, Doctors Community Healthcare, also filed for bankruptcy on Nov. 20. Doctors Community's filing followed the collapse of health care lender National Century Financial Enterprises on Nov. 18, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection because it owed approximately $3.6 billion to bondholders, large money-management firms that buy bonds and other creditors. Doctors Community is the general contractor for the D.C. Healthcare Alliance. According to James Buford, the city's health department director, Greater Southeast Community Hospital will be removed as the leader of the alliance for at least six months and possibly for years (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 12/5). The editorial continues, "But this is the District government. So, truth be told, who knows how long?" The only "certain[ty]" is that the "integrated health care model" touted by the creators of the alliance "is no more." The editorial concludes, "Could the city risk leaving Greater Southeast and its parent company ... in charge? ... Could the D.C. Department of Health be any worse?" (Washington Post, 12/6).