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The Roanoke Star-Sentinel POSTMASTER: Dated material, please deliver by publication date
Community | News | Per spective
January 16, 2009
TheRoanokeStar.com
Carilion, Cigna host business forum on health care costs
Fred First
Chestnut Revival
P4– Fred First reports that the American Chestnut may stand tall once again in American forests.
Big Upset
P7– Patrick Henry defeats William Fleming on the hardwood in a game that goes down to the last second.
If you want to see Carilion Clinic CEO and President Dr. Edward Murphy get fired up, ask him to talk about unnecessary costs and administrative waste that might add $700 billion dollars a year to the country’s bottom line where health care coverage is concerned. But a system that rewards physicians and hospitals for how many people they treat – not for wellness programs and efficiency – is a major hurdle to reform. That was Murphy’s message on Tuesday to about 75 doctors, health care providers, health insurance bro-
Former DNC Chair Terry McAuliffe Holds Town Hall Meeting Te r r y McAuliffe is one of three candidates vying for the Democratic nomination for Governor of Virginia in 2009. McAuliffe, Terry McAuliffe a Northern Virginia resident who served as Democratic National Committee Chair from 2001 to 2005, is challenging Senator Creigh Deeds of Bath County and Delegate Brian Moran of Alexandria for the party’s nomiPolitics nation in a June primary. Virginia’s Attorney General, Bob McConnell, is unopposed for the Republican nomination for Governor. McAuliffe had one word for Roanokers on hand at a town hall meeting last Thursday,
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Super Summit
P10– VWCC holds its second annual technology summit for high school students across the valley.
> CONTINUED P3: McAuliffe
kers and business leaders during a Murphy, who likes to cite a 2007 forum at Hotel Roanoke. Carilion book by Shannon Brownlee called and health care provider Cigna spon- “Overtreated� told the audience that sored the half-day session, one that there is some evidence that “lots of Cigna has conducted elsewhere in extra stuff,� ordered by some doctors the country. can cause complications Various standards for and diminishing returns Carilion Clinic the practice of medicine in on health care. This counthe United States makes it try would save $700 billion more difficult to get a handle on cost if the 30% waste figure Murphy menreduction said Murphy, who noted tioned could be cut from the current that a Medicare study indicates that system. “We need to get our arms extra spending for medical care “does around that.� Managed health care in the ‘90’s not make a difference,� on the quality didn’t quite work (“we hated it,� said of care in many cases.
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Murphy) because there were too many referrals needed – “Mother May I?� he called it. While some criticize the rationed health care in Canada and Great Britain, Murphy said there is indeed rationed health care in the U.S. – only it is based on economic factors, like who can afford it, not on a lack of equipment and physicians as in countries with single-payer government-run coverage. Physician accountability, practice> CONTINUED P3: Healthcare
[City News]
French Ambassador impressed with new Museum
Vice Mayor Lea receives criticism and support for stance on prayer
Photo by Gene Marrano
Pierre Vimont speaks with Taubman museum curator David Brown (right) during a private tour.
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Photo by Valerie Garner
Members of the Garden of Prayer No. Seven church give testimonials of support for Vice Mayor Sherman Lea during last Sunday’s service. When the topic of religious freedom comes into conflict with civil liberties the debate heats up on message boards, blogs, and letters to the editor. The online Star City Harbinger authored by attorney, Hank Bostwick, evoked the ire of Vice-Mayor Sherman Lea this week with
his blog topic, “Prayer controversy stoked for political purposes?� Lea posted in response, “for you to imply that I conceived this for some kind of political gain is beyond belief.� Lea closed his comment to > CONTINUED P2: Prayer
The French Ambassador to the United States said Monday that he was impressed by the new Taubman Museum of Art in Roanoke, recalling what another avant-garde facility did for the small seaTaubman port of Bilboa, Spain. That city had seen a downturn in its shipbuilding business. “Culture can be very helpful for a city,� said His Excellency, Pierre Vimont, noting the
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> CONTINUED P2: Taubman
He’s now a “Car Less Brit� after selling his wheels Acting on an impulse, River Laker sold his ‘91 Volvo station wagon last November and then vowed to use his bike, walk or use other transportation methods for the next six months. Now the Roanoke resident and development coordinator for Roanoke City Public Libraries is letting others follow his experiment on a blog, found at http:// carlessbrit.tumblr.com/. (Laker also has a Facebook page). P11– Taubman Museum of “Its kind of an environmental experiAr t Director, Georganne ment [as well],� said the Old Southwest Bingham, announces that resident. Parking in his neighborhood, she’ll retire in 2009. which is not always easy, helped him decide to sell. “I think it’s the excitement of the unknown – what’s going to happen without a car?� It was much easier for Laker to get around with just a bike or on foot in his native England, especially when he went to London during college and could take “the Tube,� AKA the subway. Now through his blog on Tumbler and Facebook, complete with home made videos shot while he rides a bike, walks or bums a car ride from someone else, Laker is sharing his six-month 400-0990 subscribe@theroanokestar.com journey: Postings on his blog to date, PO Box 8338 Roanoke,VA 24014 two months into the six-month com-
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Photo by Gene Marrano
River Laker braves the recent cold weather as he goes car-less for at least six months. mitment, have generally been support- sanity for going car-less in the winive and praise Laker for reducter. “It’s quite funny,â€? Laker ing his carbon footprint. chuckles. He’s heard from Personality He’s not “the stereotype ‌ people all over the country. greenie,â€? but does recycle evHe hopes the “Car Less Britâ€? ery week. Other postings question his raises the profile of green issues, and
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has read comments from people in Roanoke County, hoping to see more bus lines that could enable them to become car–less as well. Since selling the Volvo, Laker has battled with pedestrians over the use of sidewalks and learned that traffic signals won’t trip for cyclists. He’s also learned to be more efficient with his day planning when venturing out. The Car Less Brit experiment attracted the attention of Jeremy Holmes, program director with the Ride Solutions initiative for the Roanoke Valley- Alleghany Regional Planning Commission. Ride Solutions promotes biking, walking, car pooling and other transportation alternatives. “What I like about what River is doing is that he’s treating this whole thing as an adventure and big experiment,� said Holmes. “Its interesting to show people what the challenges are if you’re going to go all the way – what does it take to get around? I think what we’re seeing is that it’s not that difficult... particularly if you’re having fun with it.� > CONTINUED P3: Car-less Brit