I was intrigued and at the same time befuddled by the letter in today’s NewsLanc.com entitled “Did NewsLanc properly research LGH information?”. Particularly, I am interested in the author of the letter listing the specifics of this statement “LGH annually publishes a report about the tens of millions it spends of Lancaster’s healthcare money in outreach to the community and payments to the city and [School District of Lancaster]”.
I have been a Lancaster Country resident for many years and I do not see the tens of millions of dollars in outreach programs or to the school district. What I see are the profits of this not-for-profit hospital being re-invested in more buildings and medical offices throughout the county. Such examples of these new buildings include the newest building with 2-level catwalk on Duke Street as well as the new North Pointe Surgery Center on Oregon Pike, the explosion of mall-like growth at the Health Campus, and also the new Medical Office Building located adjacent to WiIlow Valley.
What the author of this article may not fathom is that as all of these buildings are being funded and are owned by the not-for-profit LGH and that these buildings will not be paying each respective locality the property taxes that for-profit businesses annually and routinely pay. The lack of these taxes to each community further hampers the tax base and harms the annual budget for each respective locale.
I also credit [research director] Doug McVey in his response to this letter of inquiry. I have been impressed by the first two reports on LGH financials and I can only hope that further reports will bring forth transparency in LGH reporting.
Is asking for better transparency so much to ask of a not-for-profit entity with annual profits of greater than 120 million dollars in the past two years?
