CORRIDOR: At what cost?

Some thoughts on the proposed Kootenai Health corridor. A Dec. 3 Press story listed a basic breakdown of payment resources for the KH project. In short, 20 years plus $92 million cash equals 263 acres of a utopian medical center.

I find that extremely wishful thinking. Didn’t the city just budget $4 million to move and refurbish the White House? And that involved less than one acre. What am I missing here? My horse sense is telling me that this project will only see the 92 million figure on the way by.

Let me add an additional observation from a November Press letter to the editor. An individual was treated at Kootenai Health Emergency for back pain. The treatment was an injection and the patient sent home. The actual medical facetime could be measured in minutes. After insurance, the out-of-pocket cost was $1,224. Not exactly chump change.

Finally, to my point. Yes, the proposed medical corridor would be a showcase facility. BUT, (and isn’t there always a “but”) 92 million is certainly an unrealistic number for such an undertaking. This needs a second look. And would not out-of-pocket patient costs require huge increases as a result of this project’s ongoing expenses?

So, where does this leave Mr. Everyday Cd’A? In my opinion, Kootenai’s real estate taxpayers and patients would be on the hook for huge increases. This in turn would price most Coeur d’Alene residents beyond their ability to pay. Coeur d’Alene could easily become a quasi-gated community by simple economics. Only the highest of household incomes could afford the tax requirements and user costs of such a blue ribbon facility. Coeur d’Alene would still be a great city, for those who could afford heavy cost increases. Not so great for the rest of us.

LARRY MOORE

Coeur d’Alene