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<br />and programs o!lered by I1JVJV, tlOn-
<br />nie Wallen, professional relations,
<br />Jack Rogan and Alice Finch con-
<br />cerned with group marketing provid-
<br />ed answers for the audience.
<br />The board is concerned with stabil-
<br />ity of the hospital and does not wish
<br />w Jose any ground gained in the ser-
<br />vices and specialists that The
<br />Memorial Hospital offers.
<br />"We have made great sUides in the
<br />past few years: said Marianna
<br />Raftopoulos, public relations person
<br />at the hospitaL "The board is con.
<br />cerned that the quality care caD. be re-
<br />tained under a new program of insur.
<br />ance."
<br />Several benefits for the consumer
<br />with HMO are an identification card,
<br />which, when presented w an HMO
<br />provider, will take care of paperwork,
<br />and billing which will be sent w HMO
<br />by the provider. The patient spends a
<br />set amount, usually $10 per trip w
<br />the doctor and HMO pays the rest.
<br />The patient will pay up to specified
<br />amounls, usually $750 for any.proce-
<br />dure, even heart surgery, accordingw
<br />several policies that are offered.
<br />However, a member of HMO must
<br />go w doctors and specialists who have
<br />a contract with HMO. The doctors
<br />agree to charges and prot'edures for
<br />conditions under the management
<br />plan of the HMO. A patient, if he
<br />opted for another doctor out of the
<br />HMO program, would have to pay out
<br />of pocket.
<br />Members of the audience asked
<br />both general and specific questiona of
<br />the board and of the representatives.
<br />Emergency care in other townS, if a
<br />patient requires care on a trip, for in-
<br />stance, which would be covered, ac.
<br />cording to Finch.
<br />Specialists, according to Randy
<br />Phelps, administrator of The Memo-
<br />rial Hospital, will be paid 100 perrent
<br />of their fees according to a verbal
<br />agreement with HMO, but it is not in
<br />writing.
<br />Two clinics in Craig, Moffat Fami-
<br />ly and Craig Medical have joined
<br />HMO programs at this time. .
<br />"fh.,,,...tl-.nrln"'ol,,"i
<br />
<br />paYlllg now, UUl. W1l...h.J.ler Wt:l.i.1U~1 U1
<br />the audience found that his insur-
<br />ance rates were escalating up w "75
<br />percent because of retirement. " "I
<br />need to fmd something else: Max
<br />Sims said. Many of the audience of
<br />over 50 p.eople showed a desire for op- .
<br />tiOllB in insurance by a show of hands.
<br />In a survey taken by Phelps of ad-
<br />ministrators in hospital facilities
<br />with HMO, the administrators reo
<br />sponded in a flat manner.
<br />'1 prefer not to have it, but can't
<br />complain,. was one answer, according
<br />to Phelps.
<br />The HMO policies run from $125
<br />per person month to $268 for a family
<br />of three or more, acmrding to Finch.
<br />Other questions of preexisting
<br />conditions of the clients, availability
<br />of health care under other insurances
<br />and paymenls for emergency room
<br />indigency CSBes will be examined by
<br />the board before they makes decision
<br />at the regular meeting of The Meino-
<br />rial Hospital Board onWednesday of
<br />next week. The board wants to get all
<br />the information together they can .
<br />and will still accept questions from
<br />the public. Any interested people,
<br />employers or medical personnel can
<br />get information by calling Rocky
<br />Mountain HMO at 1-800.843'0719.
<br />
<br />Trailing behind
<br />A family enjo).~ the groomed trails on Black Mountain Sunday,
<br />
<br />Swap
<br />
<br />Continued from page 1.
<br />for the endangered fish and a price
<br />of $6 million of federal government
<br />monies promised the Recovery .Pro-
<br />gram was proposed for acquisition
<br />of the water right.s.
<br />But the River District decided in.
<br />stead to create the Yampa River
<br />Basin Feasibility Study w research
<br />how both long.term flow needs for
<br />the fish as well as the future needs
<br />for water development could be met,
<br />said Thnney.
<br />In the paSt two years, the River
<br />District, under the leadership of
<br />Thnney has lead the study, which in.
<br />cludes the Endangered Fish Species
<br />Reeo:very Program, the U.S. Bureau
<br />of Reclamation and the Colorado
<br />Water CQnservation Board.
<br />In the fJrst phase of their study,
<br />which is expected to be completed in
<br />about two mon ths, the feasibility
<br />program researched the future
<br />
<br />water needs of the basin, comparing
<br />needs in the past 50 years with pro.
<br />jected water needs in the next 50.
<br />Tenney said they did not identify
<br />great increases in future water
<br />needs in the valley for coal or agri-
<br />cultural use, although they saw
<br />some municipal shortages if Craig
<br />were to grow.
<br />Mter identifying over 60 poten-
<br />tial reservoir sites in the valley for
<br />expansion, the researchers decided
<br />last year to focus on the enlarge-
<br />ment of Elkhead and Stagecoach
<br />Reservoirs.
<br />Tenney said the River District
<br />has not yet answered the major
<br />questions of who would own the ad-
<br />ditional water rights if the reser-
<br />voira are expanded, although the
<br />City of Craig may get a portion since
<br />they own the reservoir, part of the
<br />current water rights there and have
<br />contributed w the project.
<br />In addition, Tenney said the en.
<br />
<br />
<br />jJ&w. ,~;.
<br />
<br />Press photo by JeMY Johnson
<br />o
<br />o
<br />~-,,:!I
<br />
<br />c<
<br />Yi
<br />
<br />tire valley could benefit from the
<br />largement of reservoirs since a I
<br />tion of the water could be relea
<br />during low now periods to help
<br />fish, decreasing the chance ti
<br />someone would make a call on
<br />river in a dry year.
<br />Another question yet to "",
<br />dressed is the power of the k:..'
<br />instream now rights. But 11;n
<br />said the River District's goal i
<br />ensure that they don't effect ot
<br />water users on the river.
<br />In the second phase of tbe fe
<br />bility study, planners will focUl
<br />technical and financial aspec"
<br />garding the enlargement of ]
<br />head. Also they will present ti
<br />ideas for the replacement of teD
<br />rary agricultural diversions in
<br />Yampa River to ranchers and f,
<br />ers.
<br />Thnney said the restoration 0
<br />versions would help both the]
<br />sage of fish in the river as we]
<br />ranchers and farmers who ha,
<br />repair them annually.
<br />
<br />County-
<br />
<br />Continued from pa,;e I,
<br />'The Regional Child Care F:
<br />ty board was officially appro
<br />and the youth care board wasd
<br />nated an advisory board for th
<br />rector, Richard Henderson. Her
<br />son reported some trouble inn
<br />grainming the computers furni
<br />by the county, but that he is m,
<br />every effort to utilize them.
<br />.The commissioners have
<br />asked to attend a meeting 0
<br />Carbon County commissione
<br />Feb. 16. and the cominissio
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