Business
St. Luke’s Threatens “Migration” To Meridian
March 30, 2015 
In a post card sent to thousands of Boise residents over the weekend, the giant St. Luke’s medical facility in Boise threatened to “migrate” various services if the Boise City Council fails to follow its wishes and close a portion of East Jefferson St.
The mailed SL_Flyer_L threatened to “migrate over time” the cancer center, heart facilities, and a children’s hospital to Meridian.
Our first thought was. “FINALLY! The 800 pound gorilla will go away.” Since The hospital is one of the largest consumers of Boise Fire Dept. services and pays no property taxes, citizens could get at least a small break.
What better place than Meridian for additional medical facilities since it is without question the center of population for the treasure valley? St. Luke’s staffers–many of whom live in Meridian, Nampa, Eagle, and Caldwell–would have shorter commute times.
Also, folks who still choose to spend their medical insurance dollars to keep some of those million-dollar-a-year administrators and docs on the golf course and behind the wheel of fine European cars wouldn’t have to navigate the heavy traffic through downtown Boise from their West Boise and Bench homes.
The corporation has been the subject of numerous anti-trust lawsuits, racking up $10,000,000 in legal fees alone. The latest “takeover attempt” involves running a tax-funded public hospital in Weiser. The Idaho Attorney General has warned the medical giant such a move is illegal in Idaho.
One GUARDIAN reader characterized St. Luke’s as “a rapacious tax-evading corporate conglomerate using their “non-profit” profits to metastasize their empire.” He may have been the ghost of Spiro Agnew.
A public hearing is set for April 7 with a second session April 14 at Boise City Hall.
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Comments & Discussion
Comments are closed for this post.
Mar 31, 2015, 1:45 am
When you are a “non-profit” that clears over $30 MILLION A YEAR in NET PROFIT you have to find ways to hide (spend)the cash so you do not build up too much cash in the bank. So you spend and spend and build and build.
Mr Pate seems to feel like he owns the whole state or at least he should. Even after the Supreme Court tells him he is wrong….but that is what you get from a family practice doctor that decided that going back to law school and becoming a lawyer/administrator would be more lucrative.
Sad part is the St Luke’s “boards” – yes several of them a lot of “locals” on them seem to be feeding Mr Pate’s takeover the world view and seem thrilled to be paying the million dollar a year salary.
Sad all the way around.
Mar 31, 2015, 4:19 am
Ah gee, we’ll have to pack up our marbles and go away. That would leave one of the few access to East Boise neighborhoods streets open and less impeded. And that, would be just terrible. If St. Lukes wants real traffic hassles they could expand the Eagle Road facility, cause that’s just so danged convenient a place to access.
Mar 31, 2015, 8:44 am
Maybe they could stop making huge profits and instead return affordable health care to Boise. I have been around doctors who work with st Luke’s, and they are rolling in money. They take multiple EXPENSIVE vacations every year to exotic places, live in castles in the foothills, and throw parties where the $100+ a bottle wine flows like water. Do no harm my ass, these vultures are worse than used car salesman for sticking it to you.
Mar 31, 2015, 8:50 am
I dearly hope this and other planned expansions are scuttled and these profit-driven nonprofits have to start lowering pricing for services. Ready for both of the conglomerate health care businesses to have their nonprofit status cut by at least 50%.
I’m so very disgusted by the constant build, build, building of high-profit specialty centers and services that far exceed the needs of our population numbers – It’s getting ridiculous. Annual fund raisers that lose more money than they raise; Endless expansions and tax breaks – And yet, the costs of health care, like college tuition, continues to rise well-beyond any sustainable levels. What’s it going to take before people just say enough?
Mar 31, 2015, 8:51 am
As a patient of St. Luke’s who has used local services/Doctors/surgical facilities, I would applaud a move to Meridian, even though it is further from me. The congestion of downtown, multiple traffic lights, parking issues, desire to “preserve” a smaller historic town feel, make the large behemoth facility really seem out of place as it is…couldn’t imagine it even larger. The big expanses of concrete and stucco in Meridian lend themselves to a big hospital. Hoping the “threat” of moving backfires and inspires a move of at least some of the services.
Mar 31, 2015, 10:04 am
I was insulted by the flyer we received trying to extort me into sending an email voicing support of their Boise expansion which would block off Jefferson Street among other undesirables. Well, the flyer did prompt me to send emails to the council and mayor but they were not in support of the expansion.
Mar 31, 2015, 10:12 am
I’m pretty sure this is part of Obama’s AFFORDABLE health care plan.
Between Boise State, St Luke’s, and St. Al’s, Boise is going to get squeezed to crumbs.
One course could be state law amended to revoke property tax exemption for nonprofits with more than x dollars in the bank and X dollars in earnings. (churches too).
Mar 31, 2015, 4:50 pm
The interesting thing will be what the City Council chooses to do in the face of public opposition. Even more interesting will be ACHD’s reaction when St. Lukes gets around to asking them. After all, the Council does not control the streets.
Mar 31, 2015, 7:35 pm
When you go, please take your helicopters!
Mar 31, 2015, 9:15 pm
St. Luke’s, don’t let the door hit you in the ass on your way out of town! Good riddance.
Mar 31, 2015, 10:31 pm
Yes, yes, yes,cut the prices of medical services and “resolve your problem”, please St. Lukes. And, Easterner, how many other problems do you lay at Obama’s feet? Jes saying, that’s not a very helpful or insightful argument, this was going on LONG before the ACA was passed, decades.
Additional, on this point, why are Blue Cross / Blue Shield considered non-profits in this State?
Mar 31, 2015, 11:05 pm
So what you do is hire the mayors former community rep to help you sell the plan. Why – because the mayor is so good at getting what he wants in town. So Teresa goes to work. Rather than putting King Pate on TV to explain the project, which would not be at all helpful, you grab a heart doc that is about as scary a looking guy as you will find and put him on TV.
Good plan? I think not, but what do they care. All is well because you can afford to spend money like drunken sailors – even do stuff like hire a gold medalist at 6 figures plus to promote a race each year.
Remember it is all about the St. Luke’s way – public relations and how you spin it.
Mar 31, 2015, 11:17 pm
The corporation has been the subject of numerous anti-trust lawsuits, racking up $10,000,000 in legal fees alone. The latest “takeover attempt” involves running a tax-funded public hospital in Weiser. The Idaho Attorney General has warned the medical giant such a move is illegal in Idaho.
So what is the problem? Ted was dead on – the local members of the boards all support the effort. Make it bigger! Make more money!
It is also like the Convention Center folks. They know it is not right but when you have all the cash you need to pay lawyers and in this case the St Luke’s CEO is one. I have never met a lawyer that did not think he was not the smartest one in the room and the rest of us are just the underclass.
Apr 1, 2015, 7:39 am
If any one here really thinks the city council will turn down St. Luke’s request for expansion give me a call. I have some legal instant horse racing machines I can get for you at a small price.
Apr 1, 2015, 11:20 am
Wow. Such venom directed at a hospital. I can think of any number of businesses I would NOT want taking up so much space downtown.
That said, hospitals, churches and othe nonprofits should not be tax exempt, especially property taxes.
Somebody mentioned ACHD, so I’m not going too far off topic: Those flashing yellow left-turn arrows HAVE GOT TO GO. I don’t think the Guardian has covered this issue. Does anyone know if ACHD is being sued over this issue yet?
Apr 1, 2015, 5:38 pm
Good points Rod.
Everyone hates the hospital until they have chest pains or cut off their leg.
But then hate ’em again when we get the “affordable” bill for services.
And there is one of those flashing left turn light right by the St Lukes downtown. At least that future car crash will be close to the hospital. ACHD doesn’t change anything until at least 2 people are killed by their bad designs.
Apr 2, 2015, 10:39 am
Those flashing yellow left-turn arrows have been flashing for about a year (?) now. I’m surprised there aren’t dozens dead.
Apr 2, 2015, 10:55 am
The city council doesn’t want to be put in this position….to vote against the North end and Neighborhood do gooders???? My guess is that this will be sidelined and a group of common sense citizens and St. Luke’s committee will come up with compromise and then the City council folks will vote yes for compromise.
As normal any politician does not want to make a stand on a controversial subject that might lose them some votes and money. Blame goes to the committee that came up with the compromise.
JMHO
Apr 3, 2015, 11:59 am
Mr. Pate needs to go back to Texas. He does not own Idaho.
Apr 7, 2015, 11:39 am
Opulent furnishings that have little to do with better healthcare? Million dollar salaries? Attempts to establish a medical monopoly? Spending thousands of dollars to lobby citizens of Boise against their city council? Corporate bullying?
Maybe it’s time to re-think the non-profit status of area hospitals.
Apr 7, 2015, 1:05 pm
Looks like the city is trying to approve this without citizen input now – cancelled all public testimony, now only hearing from St. Luke’s.
May 22, 2015, 11:25 pm
I CAN ONLY HOPE THE CITY COUNCIL STANDS UP TO AN INSTITUTION THAT BELIEVES THEY HAVE THE POWER TO DO WHAT EVER THEY WANT. THIS ATTITUDE IS PROVEN BY THE FACT THAT ST LUKES BELIEVES THEY ARE ABOVE THE LAW .WHAT NON PROFIT PAYS ITS CEO OVER A MILLION DOLLARS, WHILE DECREASING RAISES TO ITS EMPLOYEES, DECREASING THE RETIRMENT MATCHES, STOPPING ALL OVERTIME PAY, INCREASING INSURANCE PREMIUMS WHILE DEDUCTABLES RISE,ASKING ITS EMPLOYEES TO DONATE PAID TIME OFF AND CASH WHILE DENING VACATIONS DUE TO LACK OF STAFFING.ATTEMPTS TO HAVE STAFF PAY TO PARK IN A GARAGE 3 BLOCKS AWAY THAT THEY ARE EXPECTED TO PARK IN EVEN WHEN THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH SPACES WHERE WILL THE PARKING SPACES BE? TO SAY THAT DOWNTOWN IS THE PLACE TO BUILD? HOW MUCH DID IT COST ST LUKES TO MAKE UP THE FLYERS AND SEND THEM TO THE VAST MASSES? .WHY ARE THE PEOPLE NOT BEING ALLOWED TO VOICE THIER OPINIONS.