Show Taxable Sales Up 18 In December Utah retail merchants were humming a happy tune last fall based on preliminary estimates showing fourth quarter taxable sales growth ranged from 14 to 15 percent according to the Utah Tax Commission Tax Commission Chief Economist Doug Macdonald said taxable retail sales services and gains were also experienced in the auto leasing and repair sector and the personal service sector Overall taxable services gained 15 percent in December equal to the overall retail sales gain Business investment purchases rose 27 percent in December These pur REAPER EXTRA Taken From April 7 1994 THE RICHFIELD REAPER Thursday chases were not only in response to the housing boom but also appear to reflect Utah business attempts to continue to reinvest in manufacturing equipment and supplies for future production during a lime of attractive interest rates and low inflation fltetff iivfjsfUi l?gnr purchases were up 18 percent during December 1993 compared to a year earlier In addition during the entire fourth quarter auto sales building materials and furniture purchases also soared into double digits Given a 21 percent increase in October sales a revised six percent gain for November taxablcs sales and 18 percent growth in December Tax Commission economists esti- 50 Piece Chicken McNuggets’ Extra Large Fries Bottomless Pitcher Of Soft Drink 2- mate that fourth quarter preliminary estimates point to taxable sales growth between 14 and 15 percent December retail apparel and accessory store sales scored a 17 per- cent gain General merchandise store sales including large department and discount department store sales grew 12 percent But food store sales climbed less than two percent Easy-sta- Bolstered consumer confidence and tourism may have contributed to the 25 percent increase in December restaurant sales as well as a 29 percent gain in amusement and with Hard-goo- d it furniture store sales Also reflecting the booming housing and auto sector finance insurance and real estate taxable sales and leases jumped 45 percent Strong employment growth expanded use of consumer installment credit and additional pocket money from recent home refinancing contributed to the almost 24 percent O FR800 Honda Jorgensen's 980 South Main Richfield 896-640- 8 What you want is what you get Toll Free o it Q 0 fl I N T I U R Plus Tax Locally Owned And Operated By Dale & Michelle Gibson Richfield Rlaa Nodiinaisier increase in motor vehicle dealer sales in December Double-dig- 99 Daily From 4 PM Until Closing reverse Unique tine design for smoother more efficient operation recreation services sales continued to rates escalate at strong double-digRetail durable goods sales (those items that last three years or more) jumped 338 percent in December 1993 Nondurable goods sales were mixed but on the whole strong rising 93 percent in the final month of 1993 The housing boom contributed to the 46 percent increase in retail lumber and building sales and retail rt Honda 80 HP OHV Engine 20 " tilling width Convenient “Loop Handle” design allows operation rj' from either side transmission Q M Q ttl Q 0 U N ID Q QQi T A I N Q A I 0 Q I Gflfctj d (D T C A R I! How Will Health Care Mercers Affect Me?” pitals and insurers —are coordinating their efforts to address the value (quality and cosO of care The goal of vertical integration is to dnve cost out of the care process Those involved in vertical integration recognize that it is not enough to achieve management efficiencies vpuiuwly in hos- Steve Kohleut Senior VTi e Pm mpent Intermix main Hmi th Carf Monroe 2nd Grader Wins RIF Contest Nichole Dowell a second grade student at Monroe Elementary School has been named the 1994 Reading Is Fun Reader She was among hundreds of thousands of children participating nationwide in a reading campaign called "In Celebration of Reading" Her name is now entered in a national drawing which will take place in Washington DC to select the 1994 National RIF Reader A hearing problem could be a medical problem Complete hearing evalu- ations by licensed certified audiologists FREE adult hearing screenings In the real world of health care is proceeding rapidly — far ahead of any government initiatives to address reform through legislation Today’s health care field is a shifting landscape with companies merging here enicnng partnerships there and with some organizations vanishing completely Forces of change are also rocking the Intermountain area where recent merger and acquisition activity has left many people wondering who's who and w hat’s w hat Readers of this column have been writing us asking "Why is this happening?" and “What does this mean to me?" In a nutshell Americans are demanding more health care Health care organizations are reconfiguring themselves to meet the new cost imperatives The question is: Are these really reform in a positive sense? Will the mergers lead to enhanced value —high quality at a reasonable cost — or will they e merely lead to recon-figunn- cut-rat- care? The answer is It depends Some of the reconfigunng is Cali 896-827- 1 Ask for free screening Sevier Valley Hospital Hearing will Services A service of mountain Health Care moti- vated by a desire to enhance the value of care Some is motivated by a desire to enhance profits Much is motivated by fear and uncertainty It is also important to distinguish between the two major pitals physician practices and insurance companies — these elements must work in concert with common incentives and common goals to improve efficiency m the total process of caie them down and eliminating competition Insurance plans would increased the anxiety level among health care organizations and have quickened the pace of integration hospitals Today when people ehiwse a health insurance plan often they are also choosing a group of phy sicians and a group of delivery sites This is due in part to the rapid growth of managed care plans which direct their bully doctors and hospitals into providing substandard care Lxcessive health care dollars would be diverted to slick market- TWO SCENARIOS I he v won of integrated systems is In this ideal all a noble one members to specific providers In the stormy seas of Amcncan health care integration is seen by many as a way of stay health care would he managed care prov tded by vertically integrated health systems mg afloat Physicians hospitals and insurance companies that have not yet hitched their rafts to larger vessels are watching the three elements together — physicians hospitals and insurance — in Ihesc- - systems -- bnng o ing campaigns as systems competed for customers Amencans would have traded their cost issue for a quality issue and the event most people now strongly oppose — government of health care — would begin to look very attractive efficient alignment to Horizontal integration is also occumng where companies Reality will probably take a path sortiew here between the two As in other areas of within the same level of service are merging T or example some hospital companies arc merging with other hospital companies as in the HCVColumbia merger announced last November Honzontal integration is a way for extremes Amcncan life we are engaged m a struggle between those who would serve others and those who would sene themselves between those who sec reform as an opportunity to improve health care and those who are mere opportunists This is a moment ol truth and decision for health care organizations and for the effeccompanies to compete more tively It may also be a precursor to vertical integration Integration may be accom- plished by acquinng or merging with other companies or through strategic alliances Amcncan people Yet the possibility of failure should not cause us to shnnk from our duty to reform 1HC HUY INTEGRATE? Let’s examine the reasons behind the current rush to integration 1 Cost reduction ts the factor vt) ' driving all integration Companies interested in horizontal integration wish to grow larger in order to gam negotiating strength and take advantage of economics of scale Venically integrated organizations arc trying to reduce costs types of reconfigunng by getting physicians hospitals and insurers to work together more efficiently 2 Competitive issues (survival) In the past people usually went to the hospital recommend- Vertical integration is occurring where the three major levels of semce — physicians hos ed by their physician insurance influcompanies exercised little ence in the choice of physicians or swells with growing apprehension Physicians and hospitals worry about losing patients Insurance plans worry they will be unable to offer competitive premiums if they have not secured relationships with efficient providers These womes are not unfounded Reform legislation Reform proposals have brought a sense of urgency to what has already been happening in the marketplace Public policy discussions have 3 meet the public’s need for quality care at a reasonable pne Consumers would benefit as these systems competed cm the basis of cost and quality Americans would receive higher value health to health care please call or write IHC dialogue: on health care 36 South State Street Suit Luke Citv I’tuh 1 1 care Scenario Two is a spectre of the worst that could happen as a o result of integration In this small independent community hospitals would be bought up sce-nan- conglomerby pant profit-dnveates for the purpose of shutting is optimistic that the best in Amcncan health care will prevail We believe people will stand up for the high value organizations We believe Sccnano One is not only attainable — it s already visible m the Intermountain area If you have a question related SCVILR V4LLTY HOSPITAL n I HC A Srwcr W 3 |