Winchester, Virginia and Valley Health System are examples of why the COPN should be repealed. Here is the history:
Winchester Medical Center (Valley Health) opened an ambulatory surgery center (ASC) in the mid 1980's. A new hospital was then constructed around the ASC in 1990. The ASC operated independently until 2014 when VHS/WMC incorporated it into the "Main OR" to increase costs Hospital OR rates. There was only a change in "name only" and my patients saw staggering increase in costs.
In 2014, physicians attempted to get a COPN to re-open an ASC in Winchester. It was challenged by VHS/WMC and due to the process of COPN in Virginia, the VA Dept of Health issued a new COPN to VHS/WMC to open an ASC when in fact VHS/WMC had just closed an ASC. Please explain how this system works? How this benefits the community? How maintaining monopoly control of health care services/facilities benefits the community? How can the COPN process be shown to control health care costs?
Please repeal the entire COPN process. Thanks
Curtis A. Winter, MD
Winchester, Virginia