[Number 6]

I hope that my concerns have been thoughtful. Let me summarize. I speak from the perspective of developing investor owned cancer centers back a number of years.

First, I have no problem with competition. The more the merrier, I say. The market will sort out the winners from losers. Remember radiation oncology is a very profitable line of business. Medical oncology, not so much.

Second, I like the idea of Moffit locating at the Villages. However, they are not the be all and end all of cancer care. If I were diagnosed, where I would go for a treatment plan would depend on the type of cancer. It might be NYC or Houston or Baltimore or Tampa or The Villages. Treatment could be done locally at the facility that makes the most sense.

Finally, I do not have to donate anything. That is a given.

So, Number 6 what is your problem? I believe that CFHA and the Developer are not being totally forthcoming in their solicitation. CFHA always was going to locate the ONE center, and that on the Leesburg campus. The financial feasibility study does not support two centers. The Developer, for whatever reason that you wish to ascribe, wanted a center located in The Villages. He volunteered, without asking anyone mind you, that the residents would buy the equipment for a Villages center. First it was $2million than $6.4million. You will notice that there is not any fundraising for the equipment for the Leesburg center. That is my problem. IMHO, there should only be one center, and that should be in The Villages. The only earthly reason to locate a center in Leesburg is that it is convenient to the physicians. A patient-centric facility would be located in The Villages. So in my opinion, we got sold out by CFHA. Then we got to buy our way back into the conversation. Well, you did anyway, because I am sure not going to contribute to CFHA. If I have to use their services, my insurance carrier and I will pay our fair share.

Thoughtful?

[Chi-Town]

Number 6, I agree totally that the original center should have been here. That case was stated, and it fell short. I was resigned to the Leesburg location thinking that it was close and much closer than Tampa. Golf cart accessible doesn't really apply, because that would not be an appropriate mode of transportation, especially after treatment.

The fact that there will be a second center here is appealing in that The Villages is a premiere destination and deserves premiere facilities. The developer has done an excellent job in providing us with top notch facilities and amenities. One thing to keep in mind when discussing the center is that Moffitt is not moving medical personnel to this area. The existing doctors and staff will have access to to the latest drugs and clinical trials, and I am sure there will be some sort of educational seminars involved. There will be many situations where a trip to Tampa will be needed, but follow up treatment can be local. That is huge.

I retired from Cardinal Health and was involved providing new clinics, out patient surgicenters, and hospitals with their medical surgical equipment and supplies. As far as the equipment was concerned, consultants were used in conjunction with the architect to establish a list of items needed. The procurement process took place and timelines were established. On large projects we would hold and stage the equipment and deliver it on a promised date. This part came from the capital expenditure budget and was treated as such accounting wise. The purchase orders that I got were months ahead of the opening date. One thing that I never had to do was check to see if enough donations came in to cover my invoice. That part of this whole scenario is baffling. Even the poorest of hospitals secured funding before projects were initiated. This whole situation seems so contrary to the way that The Villages has developed.

[Number 6]

That part of this whole scenario is baffling. Even the poorest of hospitals secured funding before projects were initiated. This whole situation seems so contrary to the way that The Villages has developed.

So right. This is especially true in radiation therapy. This, unlike medical oncology, is a huge profit center if the population projections are right. I don't see why The Villages NEEDS to donate the equipment. Well, unless it is as I suspect, CFHA was not going to build at The Villages without it. So in a very real sense, The Villages is subsitizing the Leesburg project. Interesting.

[bkcunningham1]

I would like to be educated. I just paid taxes to the North Lake County Hospital District aka. Florida Hospital Waterman and Leesburg Regional Medical Center when I paid my Lake County tax bill. Apparently, other's in Lake County also pay taxes to this authority to the tune of more than $10million annually.

The authority and the tax rate were established by the Florida legislature for "continued hospital services,"but there is no oversight of the monies, no audits, nothing that I can find on these monies going to these two not-for-profits.

Any additional information about this authority would be appreciated. Is The Villages hospital set up the same way?

[aljetmet]

Originally Posted by Avista

As a cancer survivor, I am amazed people think Moffitt has to justify itself. We should be falling on our knees with thanks that a branch of this renown cancer center is coming to The VIllages.

As I remember when Moffitt was built in Tampa, there was talk that they were duplicating existing facilities. Soon Moffitt was considered one of the premier cancer research centers in the country. What about MD Anderson, Sloan Kettering (and yes Moffitt is in their league.) Are they duplicating what their local docs and facilities have to offer?

This is so good to hear. I too am a cancer survivor having two surgeries at Sloan Kettering. We have a great Cancer clinic in Memphis that I have ran to when I felt something might be wrong. I presume when I go on medicare, Sloan might not be an option so having a center as described in TV can be a life saving instituition. I probably would be in TV today not for the cost of medical insurance for a youth under 65.

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by bkcunningham1

I would like to be educated. I just paid taxes to the North Lake County Hospital District aka. Florida Hospital Waterman and Leesburg Regional Medical Center when I paid my Lake County tax bill. Apparently, other's in Lake County also pay taxes to this authority to the tune of more than $10million annually.

The authority and the tax rate were established by the Florida legislature for "continued hospital services,"but there is no oversight of the monies, no audits, nothing that I can find on these monies going to these two not-for-profits.

Any additional information about this authority would be appreciated. Is The Villages hospital set up the same way?

Here is an opinion piece, that has a few facts.
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/...,177103.column

[bkcunningham1]

Originally Posted by Bogie Shooter

Here is an opinion piece, that has a few facts.
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/...,177103.column

Thanks Bogie Shooter. I knew the part about Waterman and Leesburg. I discovered that when I called the CPA's office who writes the checks to the two hospitals.

Since there isn't actually members of an authority or an office, I had to talk to the CPA's office who writes the check when they get the money from the tax collector's office. She was very nice and informative.

She explained the tax to me but I didn't have enough information to ask many educated questions. I just saw the line item on my tax receipt and wondered what it was and started making phone calls. It is a very unique situation to say the least and something I have to learn more about and digest to really have an opinion about. Again, thank you.

[graciegirl]

This is quite interesting and on the face of it ...certainly troublesome.

You live in Lake County BK? I guess I would be very interested and danged annoyed if I paid that much and other counties did not.

We live in Sumter. Does anyone know if we pay a similar tax?

My money is on you bk. You are a GREAT investigative reporter.

Let us know what you find out.

[bkcunningham1]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

This is quite interesting and on the face of it ...certainly troublesome.

You live in Lake County BK? I guess I would be very interested and danged annoyed if I paid that much and other counties did not.

We live in Sumter. Does anyone know if we pay a similar tax?

My money is on you bk. You are a GREAT investigative reporter.

Let us know what you find out.

Yes Gracie, we live in Lake County. You know and I know, you and I both love it here. There is no place like it in the world that I have ever been. I'm certainly not looking to Morse bash or whatever.

I could have studied and educated myself for years about TV and still moved here. I'm here now and still going to educate myself. The only conclusion I've come close to having yet is that Florida's Community Development Districts were set up in such a way to finally be governed by the people who live within their boundaries. This isn't political so please, don't start typing that it isn't appropriate for this discussion.

I think that is the biggest gripe with people who aren't, as some have said on this board - hypnotized- by TV. Well, people are people. Some are good, some are bad, some are a combination of everything. They are humans like you and me. That is how it is with the developer, the developer's family, the people who work for the developer and et al.

When the VCDD is finally governed by elected officials, people will still complain. That is what makes this country so great. It isn't a one-size fits all communist country where we all where the same outfits and walk in lock-step.

I believe in free enterprise, but more than that; I believe in a democratic republic form of government and that still exists. If I don't like something, I will work and use the power of my vote to change what I don't like, or at the very least to make it more to my liking.

But first, I'm not going to have a knee-jerk reaction to something and instantly dismiss it because someone is making money or there is a line item on my tax ticket I don't understand or because someone with more money than me wants me to invest in something that may make them more money but will help the community as a whole.

[iaudit]

Originally Posted by bkcunningham1

Yes Gracie, we live in Lake County. You know and I know, you and I both love it here. There is no place like it in the world that I have ever been. I'm certainly not looking to Morse bash or whatever.

I could have studied and educated myself for years about TV and still moved here. I'm here now and still going to educate myself. The only conclusion I've come close to having yet is that Florida's Community Development Districts were set up in such a way to finally be governed by the people who live within their boundaries. This isn't political so please, don't start typing that it isn't appropriate for this discussion.

I think that is the biggest gripe with people who aren't, as some have said on this board - hypnotized- by TV. Well, people are people. Some are good, some are bad, some are a combination of everything. They are humans like you and me. That is how it is with the developer, the developer's family, the people who work for the developer and et al.

When the VCDD is finally governed by elected officials, people will still complain. That is what makes this country so great. It isn't a one-size fits all communist country where we all where the same outfits and walk in lock-step.

I believe in free enterprise, but more than that; I believe in a democratic republic form of government and that still exists. If I don't like something, I will work and use the power of my vote to change what I don't like, or at the very least to make it more to my liking.

But first, I'm not going to have a knee-jerk reaction to something and instantly dismiss it because someone is making money or there is a line item on my tax ticket I don't understand or because someone with more money than me wants me to invest in something that may make them more money but will help the community as a whole.

I assume you are referring to the VCCDD and/or the SLCDD. These two community development districts will never be governed by elected officials by the community. They are entirely controlled by the developer and always will be. Only the numbered CDD's will eventually be governed by elected officials.

[barb1191]

Just came across this article of interest, although it may have been posted before. Merely posting FYI. Something that we taxpayers here should know. ...b

Time to stop tax for hospitals?
--------------------

Lauren Ritchie
COMMENTARY

October 24 2010

So there you are standing in the voting booth, staring at the ballot and trying to figure out why you should care about the candidates for three seats on the "North Lake County Hospital Board of Trustees."

The complete article can be viewed at:
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/...,177103.column

Visit OrlandoSentinel.com at http://www.orlandosentinel.com

[Maryland Girl]

WELL, lack of that kind of quality medical facilities has been mentioned by many on this forum as a reason to think long and hard about moving here, so I guess it would make your home more valuable if that need was supplied.


Amen to that!

[Maryland Girl]

billethkid;
Moffit Cancer in TV will help maintain home values is a real stretch.
If The Moffit Center were ground zero, how many miles out would that circle of positive "radience" extend?

I can say with 100% certainty, it would extend as far as Maryland! For us, health care and health care facilities are of the greatest importance when deciding to relocate.

[ajakk]

In case no one has noticed, there are several great health facilities in our area. ROBI, a Mayo Clinic affiliate in TV, MRMC in Ocala, one of the top heart hospitals in the nation, ORMC in Ocala, a Moffitt Cancer Center affiliate - just to name a few. I did not buy here because of the way I will die but because of the way I live.

Having a Moffitt Center affiliate in TV can only be a good thing. The problem is the way it is getting here. I believe it will be built with or without your donations. It seems unlikely there is a real need for a Moffitt affiliate every 20 miles but if the people want to build them, so be it.

Like many, I think we are being misled and we really don't know where our donations are going or how they are being spent. As far as as I know, the donations are being made to CFHA not Moffitt. Like the man says, you don't have to donate, but misleading the donors is in my mind wrong.

Denying the Relay for Life by the Developer is a good example of the type of people in charge of fundraising. So donate if you feel the need, but there are a lot of local charities that I feel are far more worthy.

[billethkid]

available nearby TV. No one has mentioned Inter Community Cancer Center. See the following:
http://www.icccvantage.com/
The do have state of the art radiation equipment. My wife is a breast cancer survivor, having had the good fortune to be a candidate for using their then, new mammosite radiation therapy. Inserting of radiation device into the post surgery area.....twice per day for one week VS 17 weeks for typical whole breast radiation.

Their closest office is located on Rolling Acres behind Home Depot.

Once cancer becomes a personal issue it does not take long to discover what is really available in our area. Yes Moffit is a big name, gold standard reputation comprehensive cancer center... but not the only resource in the area.

I remain concerned how TV could change their support for Relay for Life after supporting it all these years.....for not splitting the contributions with TV Moffit Center....treatment of Relay for Life as a "competitor" for funds.
Plus the obvious advantage of TV having their own newspaper that plays the Moffit card front and center at a minimum daily (more power to those with the power....a fact of life).

As for a one stop treatment locale, it will not be that totally as presented by eliminating the equipment from the donation list that is located at Lake Imaging (that is now in partnership).

Yes it will be a great addition to have ANOTHER resource for those afflicted.
Many of which never asked for one dime from prospective users.
Like so many things that are handled arbitrarily by TV, most of the time the benefit they seek for themselves is complimented by the benfit provided to TV residents. These are not mutually exclusive.

btk