By MARK SPOHR | MD
In an “open letter” by Tahoe Forest Hospital CEO Bob Schapper, he makes many claims.
He claims that hospital salaries are based on hospitals of comparable size. One can search California hospital district pay at sco.ca.gov where you will see that Schapper’s 2012 total wage of $512,591 is more than twice that of most hospitals of comparable size (less than 50 beds). You have to look at a hospital such as Alameda County Medical Center (with two hospitals and more than 800 beds) to find a CEO who is as well compensated as Schapper. One must question the judgment of the hospital board for awarding such a high level of compensation, especially when the CEO must rely on a constant stream of expensive consultants to supplement his knowledge.
Schapper also claims that TFH pricing is below average using the California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development chargemaster data. However, when you look at small, community district taxpayer supported hospitals, Tahoe Forest Hospital charges 145 to 174 percent of prices than comparable hospitals for the most common evaluation and management services.
