Julie Mayfield's Letter Supporting the Sale of Mission to HCA
Dear Attorney General Stein,
As America's healthcare industry changes rapidly, it is important that Western North Carolina continue to have a high level of investment in health care. It is also critical that we continue to tackle the many contributors to poor health, such as the lack of healthy food, insufficient affordable and healthy housing, inadequate public transportation, absence of sufficient childcare and early childhood education, and the overwhelming opioid crisis. Mission Health joining HCA Healthcare will help our region better tackle these "upstream" issues - the social determinants of health - through both significant new tax revenue and, most importantly, the Dogwood Health Trust.
The proceeds of the sale, plus Mission Health's remaining cash and investments, will go to the Dogwood Health Trust, making it one of the largest health care foundations in the Ut ited States. The foundation will be required to grant between $50 and $75 million each year in Westem North Carolina to help non-profits and local governments throughout our region implement effective solutions to the complex issues that result in people being in poor health. This level of investment has the power to literally transform our region into a place where everyone has access to healthy food, no one goes hungry, everyone has safe and adequate housing, mobility is easy, and many more children have access to free, pre-kindergarten education.
In short, by focusing on the social determinants of health, the Dogwood Health Trust critical role in providing our community with the investments we need and that we able to make with current resources. This Trust and its investments can only be realized through the sale of Mission Health to HCA Healthcare.
I know there are outstanding concerns about the impact of the sale on healthcare in th our region and about the makeup of the Dogwood Health Trust board. I agree that whatever health care system exists here must adequately serve people throughout our entire region, and I support the community desires for the Dogwood Health Trust board to be transparent, accountable, and representative of our region.
I appreciate your consideration of my letter as you weigh whether to approve the sale.
Regards,
Julie MayfieId
Asheville City Council Member
