The apt placement of the guest editorial by the UVMHN CEO, Sunny Eappen; “Living Together” by Danielle Wallace; and “Ways of Seeing” by Cheryl Mitchell on the editorial pages of the Jan. 25 issue, could not have been better timed. The thinly veiled corporate approach to healthcare by Eappen betrays the prime motivators and objectives of UVMHN: revenue and margin. As a former employee at director-level at the mothership, UVM Medical Center, I have reason to draw this conclusion.

Eappen’s empty corporate-speak is an excellent portrayal of the top-down mandate of “Margin Is King.” Trust me, UVMHN does not care about housing for those in desperate, urgent need; it seeks housing to attract employees. Eappen’s “urgency” is only about increasing revenue. As Fletcher Allen became UVM Medical Center, then UVMHN, absorbing smaller local hospitals throughout northern Vermont and New York while simultaneously creating revenue generators such as One Care and UVM Advantage, administrative costs have soared to 31%. (I strongly recommend reading Bill Schubart’s Opinion piece in VTDigger, December 10, 2023. Mr. Schubart asks, “So if the mission focuses on the institution rather than the population it serves, how do we measure its success?” I also recommend reading his reference, a piece in the New York Times Opinion section of Nov. 30, 2023, “Why Are Nonprofit Hospitals Focused More On Dollars Than Patients?”)

In beautiful contrast, Danielle Wallace’s call for community compassion and caring for those suffering who have found themselves houseless and/or addicted is laser-focused on what we all need more of. Addison County, we can do this.

Cheryl Mitchell accurately acknowledges the broad, long-term issue of our housing crisis, the danger of silver-bullet solutions, and the sound approach of silver-seed plantings of solutions. One silver seed Ms. Mitchell presents that has the real potential to grow into flourishing long-term growth is universal primary care. Vermont, we can do this. I strongly endorse her call to “Contact your representatives to advocate for H.59 and universal primary care.” I would add a call to oppose S.211; The Green Mountain Care Board needs to strengthen, not weaken its ability to control hospital costs.

Bill LaDue

Ferrisburgh