A healthy response

UNC Health Care, the prestigious public system associated with the University of North Carolina, provided more free care this year than it ever had before, according to the system's president. Dr. William L. Roper. Something like $218 million-worth, counting bad debt and adjustments in Medicare and Medicaid. But 1,100 signers of a petition presented to Erskine Bowles, president of the University of North Carolina system, protested that UNC Health was scaring some poor patients because of more aggressive collections and phone messages to prospective patients that they'd have to pay some money up front for care.

To his credit, Bowles apparently acted quickly, and give Roper some of the credit, too. UNC-Chapel Hill Chancellor James Moeser also spoke at the press conference where changes were announced.

The hospitals' chief said Tuesday that he certainly didn't intend for the system to frighten away those who cannot pay for their health care, and said future phone messages would emphasize the availability of care regardless of the ability to pay. He acknowledged that "...if we have individual patients who fall through the cracks -- that is, who don' get the compassionate care and respect they deserve -- that's a major problem." If patients who qualify for financial assistance will work with UNC Health counselors, he said, their accounts would not be turned over to the Attorney General's Office for collection.

Importantly, there now will be community folks on UNC Health's committees and on its board of directors. High-powered business people have been the typical appointments, with some reason. Running a health system in the current environment demands business savvy. But UNC Health will be better off with a more diverse board that's connected with the community this system is supposed to serve.