In the past weeks, there have been a number of news broadcasts and newspaper articles about the financial problems facing National Century Financial Enterprises.  According to the reports, National Century is one of the largest providers of bonds for hospitals in the country.  

Doctors Community Healthcare Corp, which owns Greater Southeast Community Hospital Corp. and Hadley Memorial Hospital, is one of the customers of National Century.  National Century has filed bankruptcy. Doctors Community Healthcare Corp filed bankruptcy on November 20, 2002. This unfortunate incident has a significant impact on the financial status of Greater Southeast and Hadley Memorial Hospital.  

Greater Southeast is the prime contractor for the DC Healthcare Alliance which provides inpatient, outpatient, primary care and emergency services for the District’s uninsured individuals.  

The DC Healthcare Alliance will continue to serve the uninsured residents of the District despite the troubles at the hospital.  Greater Southeast  is only one hospital provider in the Alliance.  There are four other hospitals, 28 clinics, and over 800 primary and specialty care providers.  DC General's Emergency Room and Clinics will continue to provide services.  What's even better is that the dollars of the Alliance are in the District's bank account.  So even though the hospital is in bankruptcy, the Alliance dollars are safe! Greater Southeast does not hold the health care dollars.

The Alliance Partnership will continue regardless of who is the prime contractor.  The prime contractor serves to manage certain elements of the partnership.  


The DC HealthCare Alliance
Fact Sheet

"DC resident usage of Alliance health care in first year of operation"

• Over 37,000 District residents were eligible to receive health care through the Alliance during the first year of operations.
  
• There were over 60,000 primary care and specialty care visits
  
• 153,000 member prescriptions were filled
  
• 97,000 Dental visits
  
• 1,600 members received inpatient care
  
• 12,000 Emergency Room visits

• Currently looking at other options for prime contractor for the Alliance.
  
• Monitors have been placed at Greater Southeast to ensure that the quality of patient care meets the appropriate standards.
  
• Daily meetings or conference calls have been initiated with key DOH staff members to review information collected each day.
  
• Discussions are being held with the leadership of the hospital to acquire real time information.
  
• The Safety Net Administration is collecting information regarding the ongoing financial status of the hospital.
  
• DOH General Counsel is reviewing contractual and other legal issues that have an impact on the situation.
  
• DOH is reviewing several options for ensuring continuity of patient care in the Event that Greater Southeast is unable to maintain its financial responsibilities.