Opponents of the Philadelphia Health Care Trust's gift of $100 million to the University Health System publicly expressed their discontent with the use of this money at a rally held last Friday.
Sponsored by the Philadelphia Unemployment Trust and the Action Alliance -- two organizations that filed a petition to stop the transfer of money to Penn in April -- the protest was held outside of the PHCT building at Chestnut and 22nd streets.
Bearing signs that read WE NEED HEALTH INSURANCE NOW, HEALTH CARE FOR ALL and HELP THE UNINSURED, NOT PENN, a small but passionate crowd of 25 people rallied for the use of this money to benefit low-income patients -- as opposed to going toward helping the University's beleaguered Health System. Protesters ultimately entered the building, where they remained until PHCT employees threatened to call the police.
"This trust is set up to help the health care community, but instead it's enriching the people who run it -- they're taking $100 million and giving it to Penn," PUP director John Dodds said. "We're pretty disturbed that this giant sum of money is being passed on with no strings attached when there's really such high demands from the community."
In April, PHCT -- a charity formed in 1998 to support the advancement of healthcare delivery and research in the city -- announced that it would be transferring its remaining assets to the Health System over the next seven years.
Under this arrangement, PHCT Chairman Bernard Korman would become vice chairman of the Penn Medicine Board -- the Health System's governing body -- along with the chairman of finance.
Nevertheless, a week after this announcement was made, PUP and Action Alliance filed a petition before the Court of Common Pleas Orphan's Court Division to force the money to be used to care for uninsured people.
"The money shouldn't provide financial support to a hospital," general counsel for the petitioners Daniel Shah said. "We're entitled to complain about the transfer of funds without the purpose to intended beneficiaries."
Health System spokeswoman Rebecca Harmon said that the University does not find PUP and Action Alliance's claims to be legitimate.
"We believe that the gift to Penn is entirely appropriate," Harmon said. "The health care mission of Penn is consistent with that of the Philadelphia Health Care Trust."
Moreover, Harmon cited Penn's enduring relationship with the Philadelphia community as an indicator of its dedication to service.
"We have a long relationship with the community, including the uninsured and underinsured population," Harmon said. "Our faculty, residents, medical students and nurses... give of their time to provide free screening to community residents."
While Penn Medicine has yet to determine exactly how the $100 million will be used, PHCT intended for the donation to enhance patient care, research and education.
Instead of going to the Health System, however, PUP and Action Alliance feel that the assets should be used to expand the hours of Philadelphia's District Health Centers, combat lead paint poisoning and fund prescriptions and medical tests for the uninsured.
PUP and Action Alliance have also expressed concern about the role Korman will assume on the Penn Medicine board.
General Council at Community Legal Services and co-council for the petitioners Jonathan Stein questioned the integrity of Korman's past business practices.
"It's important to know what the University is getting into by appointing Korman onto the board of Penn Medicine," Stein said. "From the Penn point of view, this fellow has bought a seat on the board, and he's bringing his background and baggage with him."
Stein said that Korman's past investment strategies -- which have been centered around venture capital and biotech -- should also be taken into consideration.
"Korman has been involved in riskier investments that are outside of the norm," Stein said. "The Penn Medicine people don't have a full understanding of what the University is getting into -- do they really want this person?"
