By Lori EhdeA misunderstanding about Sioux Valley’s negotiations with its primary care physicians is threatening the fund-raising campaign for Luverne’s new hospital and clinic campus.Particularly, residents are concerned about the rumor that local doctors are being asked to take a 40 percent salary reduction in order for the new facility to be built.Several physicians Tuesday clarified that the rumor is confusing two completely separate issues.Sioux Valley is negotiating a new contract with primary care physicians in all its system clinics and hospitals.But those negotiations have nothing to do with Luverne’s new hospital and clinic currently under construction.Dr. Richard Morgan agreed to speak on the record from his own perspective."To say that they’re taking money out of my pocket to build the new hospital simply isn’t true," he said Tuesday night.He said he’d also heard the rumor and that he was disappointed by its potential effect on fund-raising efforts for the new hospital."I think that’d be a disaster," he said about people withdrawing their support due to the rumor."I feel so bad that this is out in the public. It’s totally inappropriate that we air our dirty laundry this way."He explained that Sioux Valley is still honoring all doctors contracts currently in effect."I think it’s important for people to understand we are negotiating with Sioux Valley," Morgan said, "and all the primary care doctors in the system are involved — not just Luverne’s doctors."He said physician’s salaries are subject to decreased Medicare reimbursements and increased health care costs."It was a huge pay cut that hit us this last quarter, and for some younger doctors who maybe aren’t as rooted … some may look elsewhere to practice," Morgan said. "I’ve devoted a lot of my life to this town, and I’d sure hate to see this get all mixed up. …We’re certainly hoping we can work this out so we can continue to provide the type of medical service we have for years. I’m pretty optimistic we can."
