Financial Disclosure?

In an article in the Tennessean last July regarding the cost of the hospital appeal, Robert Otwell made the following comment:

Otwell, Maury Regional's chief executive, said he wishes the county hospitals didn't have to spend any money to oppose Spring Hill Hospital. But "if anybody wants to look back and say, 'Did you wisely spend money to protect patient care in this area,' I'll defend that to anyone who wants to take a look at it," he said.

Well Mr. Otwell, the request has been made by The Citizens for Spring Hill Hosptial. Are you a man of your word?

CITIZENS REQUEST FINANCIAL INFORMATION FROM WILLIAMSON AND MAURY COUNTIES

SPRING HILL, TN. – Last week, Citizens for Spring Hill Hospital, a community-driven grassroots group made up of supporters of the proposed of Spring Hill Hospital, officially requested financial information from Williamson and Maury County Commissions related to the opposition and appeal of the Certificate of Need (CON) granted to TriStar/HCA.

In a letter dated December 7th, from the law firm of Gordon, Garrison & Green of Spring Hill, the group requested “total monies expended” by Williamson Medical Center and Maury County Regional Hospital from May 1st thru November 30th 2006. The request includes information relating to newspaper advertising, consulting and attorney’s fees as well as in-kind contributions to other organizations opposing the CON.

The group contends taxpayers of both counties have a right to this information under the Tennessee Open Records Act. “These hospitals are county-owned. The citizens have a right to know how much the County Commissions have authorized these hospitals to spend fighting the CON application, as well as what they are spending now to appeal the nearly unanimous 7-1 decision by the HSDA,” said Dave Huebner, one of the key organizers for the Citizens for Spring Hill Hospital.

“We are hopeful the County Commissions will be forthcoming with information within 30 days as we have requested. Is it hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars they are spending? We think they should be held accountable as fiduciaries of the taxpayers’ money,” said Huebner.