School of Public Health Taking a Second Look at Gift Horse

Is the University of Iowa School of Public Health retracting its position or is it an attempt to smooth ruffled donor feathers?

The faculty of the School of Public Health held an emergency meeting Monday morning and reversed its position, voting to "consider this naming gift at a collegiate faculty meeting" in the fall semester.

The Gazette reports that "Marvin Pomerantz, who resigned as chairman of the public health's fund-raising committee last week, said he's not sure Wellmark will hold the gift open that long."If it does go all the way to the fall, it would be doubtful in my mind that Wellmark would even let the gift stand," he said. "If a majority of faculty would vote for it and they do it now I think the gift could take place. But they have to do it now.""

While there are some who would be highly disappointed if the School of Public Health accepted the conditions of the donation, it would not surprise me if they accept the gift for several reasons:

1) The University of Iowa Foundation will be hurt by this P.R. disaster and is likely to be hurt more by other large donors threatening to withdraw their support.
2) Beyond the School of Public Health, the UI Hospital Center, which already has issues, is likely to experience dissonance from donors.
3) The pressure from state movers and shakers has got to be enormous and will land in the lap of incoming UI President Sally Mason. This will put her in the hot seat very quickly.

My "two cents" prognosis is that a face-saving arrangement will be arrived at and the donation will be accepted.

Health Has No Fury

On the light side...sort of...my sincere thanks to P-C opinion page editor Jeff Charis-Carlson for his editing prowess.

Health Has No Fury (Today's Poetic License)

Billions on anti-depressants each year get spent.
So what in the world's making us a "Prozac Nation"?
(Well, OK ... there's climate change, a war without end,
an energy crisis and the Prez's secretive administration.)

Still didn't one of our greatest presidents propose,
"The only thing we have to fear is fear itself?"
Things on earth could be worse, I suppose,
And, if nothing else, at least I have my health!

But speaking of health, there's been a delay.
Michael Moore's movie "Sicko" has yet to hit town.
Is there some hidden agenda at play?
Or just not enough copies to go around?

Regardless, I worry for the 47 million of those
folks who need health insurance badly.
Because whenever "Sicko" comes, and long after it goes,
The uninsured will still be left without any -- sadly.

Maybe Wellmark should flout its university cynics --
those nonbelievers at the UI College of Public Health --
by offering $15 million to Iowa's free medical clinics.
That'll prove they're only out to help share the wealth.

Leaving Well (mark) Enough Alone

Wellmark gives 15 million reasons why it is withdrawing its support from the University of Iowa School of Public Health. According to the Gazette The Wellmark Foundation has withdrawn its offer of a $15 million naming gift to the University of Iowa College of Public Health, according to a letter sent to the college's Dean James Merchant.

The letter, to Merchant from Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield Chief Executive Officer John Forsyth, states “...[O]n behalf of the Wellmark Foundation, I am withdrawing the offer of a $15 million gift to the University of Iowa Foundation for use by the College of Public Health. Unless and until there is unwavering support from both the College and University administrative leadership for a major gift as originally solicited by the College's Capital Campaign Committee Leadership, our gift will remain withdrawn.”

College of Public Health faculty on Thursday overwhelmingly rejected the idea of naming their college after Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield with a vote during a closed-door faculty meeting.

But the faculty, and Public Health Dean James Merchant, said they were open to negotiating with the insurance company on a different name, perhaps naming the college after an individual of Wellmark's choosing or after the Wellmark Foundation, a separate, nonprofit entity launched by Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield.

Merchant said it was the “strong preference” of Wellmark officials that the name be the Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield College of Public Health.

But in their resolution, the college faculty said they could not support naming the eight-year-old college after Iowa's largest insurance provider. They felt it could negatively impact how their research is viewed by peers and the public.



Perhaps the Viagra School of Public Health is still a possibility?

BlueCross City v. BlueShield City

From the Citizen-Press

Iowa City Waiting to Turn Blue?
(UPS) Iowa City
Dan Roberts

Iowa City council members, who have been discussing a possible name change in exchange for financial considerations, will have to decide between Wellmark BlueCross City or Wellmark BlueShield City due to the University of Iowa School of Public Health's impending decision to go with the Wellmark Foundation School of Public Health. "We are disappointed that we can't be Wellmark City," said Mayor Ross Wilburn, "but as long as we can be part of the "Blue Team", we are happy."

As part of the negotiations, city workers will be covered by a Wellmark HMO plan, as long as they do not have any pre-existing conditions.

In a related story, Jim Faucett, mayor of Coralville, said "I am urging my fellow council members to move on renaming Coralville "Wellmarkville." We don't want to miss this opportunity to collaborate with Wellmark and Iowa City to make Johnson County the Health Insurance Corridor.

Mayor Tom Salm of North Liberty could not be reached for comment, as North Liberty activists are considering seceding from Iowa.

Welcome to Wellmark City, Iowa

This from the Iowa City Citizen-Press

Iowa City Council to Vote Tuesday on Renaming City

(AP) July 4, 2007
Glen Stevens

The Iowa City council, in an effort to lessen the burden on residential property owners, is considering changing the official name of Iowa City to Wellmark City, thanks to a proposed contribution by the private, non-profit Wellmark Foundation (Not affiliated with Wellmark, Inc.). Said Mayor Ross Wilburn, "we'll finally be able to afford staffing the northeast side fire station and the police can get the forty police officers they need and tasers too."

City Manager Steve Atkins said, "This is an unusual move, but since I will be retiring to Arizona, I'm really not too worried how it turns out."

Council member Dee VanderHoef said, "I think this is very exciting and will protect our bond rating, which is fiscally responsible."

Another council member, Bob Elliott, who will be stepping down in November, said, "We can agree without being agreeable that this is a good move. I think it is fair that the Wellmark Foundation select the new city manager or be named by the Board of Regents."

Mayor Pro Tem Regenia Bailey questioned the move, but agreed that if it meant making Iowa City more of a cultural corridor destination, she would support it. "Iowa City is the most vibrant city of all the vibrant cities in Iowa," she said, "and calling it Wellmark City will make it even more vibranter--if that is a word."

Council member Amy Correia who wants more affordable housing said, "I have asked the Wellmark Foundation to consider taking over the City's public housing program so it may be as efficient as an HMO."

Longtime council members Connie Champion and Mike O'Donnell could not be reached for comment as they were allegedly taking a smoke break when the announcement was made.

Developers expressed their concerns, but were relieved to hear that they would have more TIF coming their way. Said Mark Moen, "The timing couldn't be better, I have a plan to build a 40 story condominium and hospital complex next to Starbucks. I know some worry that we'll close the Mill, but actually it will be relocated to the 40th floor of the complex to preserve it for the next generation." Glen Sider said, "I always hoped Iowa City would be called South Gate City, and if there weren't so many zoning and building regulations, it probably would."

This news was the second shocker in as many days as The University of Iowa College of Public Health may become the Wellmark Foundation College of Public Health.