DOTHAN, Ala. (WTVY) – How the Houston County Healthcare Authority Board is appointed is in the hands of Houston County voters.
Board members and county commissioners are split.
“They are wanting to do away with this check and balance system and that’s generally not a good thing,” Board Member Don Owens said.
“The current law gives the citizens no power over the direction of the hospital, over the direction of healthcare, over the direction of how their taxpayer dollars are being sent,” County Commission Chairman Brandon Shoupe said.
The appointment process now works as follows: The commission is required to choose from a list of nominees given to it by the Houston County Healthcare Authority Board.
Voting yes would change the process to allow the commission to appoint members of their choice, without nominations from the board.
Voting no would mean keeping the process as it is.
Shoupe urges Houston County residents to vote yes.
He said this is what he sees wrong with the process in place now:
“It would be like the county commission choosing who got to run for county commission. It’s not fair to the people, the people don’t have a voice,” Shoupe said.
However, board members Don Owens and Bruce Wozow believe people should vote no.
They believe the process that has been in place for decades is working fine.
“In order for the hospital system, the Houston County Healthcare Authority, to continue to do the job that they’ve done it’s extremely important for them to have input into that process,” Owens said.
“The evidence speaks for itself. The proof is out there with the success of the hospital, thus the success of the board in managing the hospital,” Owens said.
Shoupe said this is about accountability.
“This is not about me personally wanting to have control or power, this is about the citizens having an ability to account for how their taxpayer dollars are spent as it relates to healthcare,” Shoupe said.
Wozow argues though that the board is accountable.
“First off, we are accountable to over 3,000 employees,” Wozow said. “Secondly, we’re accountable to hundreds of patients every day that are seeking care within our system. Lastly, we are accountable to close to a half million people in our service area that look toward Southeast Health for their healthcare needs who look to us for their healthcare needs.”
Ultimately, the choice will be yours when you head to the ballot box.
“Do you believe that they should be accountable to the citizens over how they spend that money?,” Shoupe said. “I just believe the citizens need to vote yes because I believe in accountability.”
“Please don’t be fooled… this is really not a noble gesture as they come across as giving more voice to the Houston County taxpayers,” Owens said. “This is pretty much, simply seems to be a control and power grab of the Houston County Commission.”
The full amendment can be read below:
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