June 10, 2014
What: A group of concerned people, supporters of Health Care for All Oregon, have been asking the city to disclose the amount spent by Providence for the naming rights to the Timbers stadium. We have sent Mayor Hales a request for a meeting by mail, have gone to his office to request a meeting, and have spoken at city council. The Mayor's office
has refused to schedule a meeting with us, saying that this issue is not a priority for them. (As owners of Civic Stadium, we believe it should take very little time for them to get this information.) The stadium is publically owned, and therefore releasing this information would be in compliance with the Oregon's Public Records Law.
Who: Health Care for All Oregon
Where: Portland City Hall, 1221 SW 4th St., Portland, OR (Great Visuals! Signs depicting the discrepancy in Providence's mission statement regarding caring for the poor and actual practice)
More information/background
In February, the Portland Timbers announced that naming rights for its stadium had been given to Providence for an undisclosed amount. This came months after Moda Health purchased naming rights for the Rose Garden for $40 million.
Health Care for All Oregon, a nonprofit organization committed to bringing access to health care to all Oregonians without having to pay premiums, deductibles, copays, or any other costs, has been concerned about the high price of health care that is being paid for health care at the expense of patient care.
The Affordable Care act designates a percentage of health insurance income to go directly to patient care, a certain percentage for profit/administration (ie, 80-85% of income must go directly to medical costs). This 'profit', in these cases totaling tens of millions of dollars, is being used for advertising instead of patient care, another example of why for profit health insurance will not work.
Since early April, we have been asking the city to meet with us about this issue, and they have refused to set a meeting time. When we went to City Council on May 28th, the mayor asked us to see his assistant to set something up, but upon calling, we were told it was unlikely this meeting would take place, as it is not a priority.
We believe that Providence premium payers and the public does have a right to know how much of their premium dollars are being spent on advertising, ie, how much was paid for the naming rights to the Timbers Stadium. Providence employees are also very much affected, with cuts to benefits and jobs. We find it difficult to understand how Providence can pay so much for advertising, yet not give their hard working employees the raises that they deserve.
We also find it ironic that Providence claims as its mission statement that care for the poor and respect for all is a priority. Yet spending tens of millions for advertising is OK at the cost of this patient care. Under the ACA, with people mandated to obtain insurance, those above the 138% of poverty level do not qualify for Medicaid, but if they are under 400% of poverty level, they get subsidies. But they still must pay premiums, with high deductibles, and then must pay as much as 40% of their medical bills. If Providence is to fulfill its mission statement, these people should be receiving financial assistance with their bills, rather than funds going to putting their name on a stadium.
Supporters of Health Care for All Oregon will have signs depicting this discrepancy.
