Video: Dr. Ewart Brown Press Conference

January 17, 2018

[Updated] Dr. Ewart Brown is holding a press conference this afternoon [Jan 17] to speak on the closure of the CT Scan Unit at Brown-Darrell Clinic . We will have additional coverage later on and in the meantime the live video of Dr Brown’s press conference is below.

Update 1.50pm: The press conference has concluded, and the 45-minute replay is below:

Those present at the press conference included lawyer Jerome Lynch QC, BIU President Chris Furbert, BIU First Vice President Glenn Simmons, Reverend Nicholas Tweed, Derrick Burgess and Zane DeSilva, who confirmed he was there in his ‘personal capacity.’

Dr Brown previously said that the CT Scan Unit at Brown-Darrell Clinic will close on January 31, 2018, with the company saying it is as a “result of severe reductions in payments by the Bermuda Health Council.”

Dr Ewart Brown Press Conference Jan 17 2018 (11)

In a statement prior to this press conference, Dr Brown said, “Dr. Ewart Brown said, “It is unfortunate but telling that the Bermuda Health Council first released a statement to the media in response to the closing of the Brown-Darrell CT Unit, which told what they really thought and intended, which is below ‘There was not enough demand for CT services… Bermuda’s health system has options where people can access needed care including in the hospital.”

“The Health Council has apparently retracted that statement, and in its place pushed forward one that purports to express regret at the decision to close Brown-Darrell. The most recent statement says that the Health Council’s action to cut our fees is a form of price control. At the same time, it says that we were not targeted.

Dr Ewart Brown Press Conference Jan 17 2018 (3)

“Yet, our clinics are the only private medical practices whose reimbursements were drastically cut. That’s not targeting? Forgive me if I feel the beam on my back.

“The Health Council is disingenuous at best in stating that their “recommendations are based on a resource-based relative value scale [RBRVS] methodology…the same methodology [emphasis added] as that used by the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid for determining reimbursement rates in the USA.” Nothing could be further from the truth.

“I invite the Government, other physicians, the media particularly, and the entire Bermuda public to research the Relative Value Unit [RVU] methodology utilized in the United States. What you will find is that the American Medical Association, the largest association of doctors in the US, is at the forefront of setting reimbursement rates through their special Relative Value Scale Update Committee.

“This special Committee is comprised of 31 physicians and 300 medical advisors that represent each sector of medicine. This physician committee takes into account physicians’ time, nurses’ time, supplies and equipment involved in patient care. Historically, this Committee’s recommendations have been accepted close to 90% of the time.

“In Bermuda, the equivalent organization to the American Medical Association is the Bermuda Medical Doctors Association [BMDA]. Last year after these drastic cuts were enacted, the BMDA released a statement in which it requested that the Health Council provide the methodology and other considerations the Health Council used to establish the new fee schedules, because the BMDA “was not aware of stakeholder consultation with the community in setting this RVU.” Who at the Health Council had the Bermuda physician expertise to be able to value physician and nurses’ time, supplies and equipment involved in patient care?

“Clearly, the Health Council did not use the expertise of the BMDA, the only physician association in Bermuda, in making these cuts. Yet, the Health Council proclaims that it used United States RVU methodology, which has physician input at its core. The Health Council cut these rates on its own, without benefit of the Bermuda medical community’s knowledge and expertise. These medical components would have been essential for true RVU methodology, a system that cannot be legitimately employed without integral input from physicians.”

Update 1.25pm: The Government has issued the attached sheet which they said “factually sets out the rationale for the financial supplements paid to CT and MRI providers to offset the drastic fee cuts of June 2017″.

The Government also added, “The actual payments will be based on services provided, therefore the exact amounts for the period of operation will not be known until the end of the fiscal year.

“If the level of services remained the same as last year, Brown Darrell and Bermuda Health Care Services would receive approximately $778 thousand and BHB $1.8 million.

Bermuda currently has three CT scanners, placing us above the OECD average, and among the highest in the world for CT scans per person.”

Update 4.07pm: An audio clip from Health Minister Kim Wilson explaining the scan fee supplements

The document provided by the Government is below [PDF here]

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Comments (80)

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  1. George says:

    Why are there a Government Minister and a current standing PLP MP at this private company’s press conference?

    • Double S says:

      Why did the Government give that private company (as spoke about in the press conference) a few hundred thousand of taxpayer funds?

    • Hurricane says:

      George, is that the best you have?

      • Onion Juice says:

        Well if they couldnt get him with Lahey, they”ll get him another way.

        • Double S says:

          The only reason ‘they couldn’t get him with Lahey’ is because your beloved PLP dropped the lawsuit.

          • Onion Juice says:

            Back in de day they prevented Dr.E.F.Gordon and Dr.Barbara Ball from praticing their medical duties, so the moral of the story is, if you fight against us and support the people you will pay.
            Same S!@# different day.

            • Double S says:

              Damn you’re boring. Can never address the facts and instead go on some historical emotional topics that have nothing to do with the topic at hand. PLP love supporters like you as you allow them to get away with their shenanigans.

              Sheeple.

        • lol says:

          youre talking about the PLP right?

        • Anbu says:

          As they should. We all know brown is too slick to actually get held to acct for anything, it is most satisfying to see him squirm and whine tho.

        • Wahoo says:

          Well de Lahey thing got set aside somehow didn’t it. Anyhow do you ever stop to think that “they” are looking out for your best interests? I bet doc ain’t sharing with you.

          • Alex says:

            Dr Brown, please stop putting politics in the way of people’s health.

            Mr Burgess, Tweed and Desilva. What on earth are you doing there?

  2. puzzled says:

    Were fruit caked.

  3. fluffy says:

    Shocking conflict of interest the ex Gov leader having a Gov MP and a Gov minister with him in his spat with the Gov.

  4. smh says:

    The evil in our midst

  5. Rocky5 says:

    Maybe Doc Brown should have supported/vote for OBA!!??

    • Lets keep it real says:

      You do relize that during the UBP..oba years in power they spent millions of the tax payers money in overtime and other expense trying to take Mr. Brown to court?

      • bdaboy says:

        All lies of course. No one spent any money ‘trying to take them out’.
        The plp simply make things up, like their hero, trump.

        • Onion Juice says:

          They spent over $2 Million for de Lahey case. This is just an offshoot.

          • Double S says:

            No they didn’t Fake news once again. The $2mn was for every court case that was ongoing (not just Dr. Brown’s). PLP love supporters like you. Allergic to the facts and extremely vulnerable to propaganda.

      • Gabriel says:

        FYI – The Police department is under the control of the Governor and it always has been that way. The investigation btw started when the PLP were in Government.

  6. Sharon says:

    What is wrong with people. Surely they were there for moral support.

    • Standing Strong says:

      The same rent a crowd are there and isn’t MP Desilva a director of the Clinic?

    • Onion says:

      Don’t you mean immoral support?

    • wahoo says:

      So they all drove or caught the bus to get there in the rain? I doubt it I would guess a minibus got sent out and a promise was made.

      • D'unbelievables says:

        In fairness, the final picture looks more like a Seniors day out with the poor dears being heaped on the patio and having little say in the matter.

        Interesting to see Burt’s boss behind the podium again….. speaks volumes.

  7. Truth is killin’ me... says:

    The sweet smell of $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$!!

  8. Physician says:

    We are all behind you Dr Brown. This is clear abuse of power. Where are we going to get our cardiac calcium scoring? Plus the hospital charges the insurance company more for the same tests…and their reporting times are long.Which private business will be targeted next? GPs?

    • lol says:

      Completely wrong. CT Scan results from hospital are extremely quick….Browns take 2 week. Had scans at both locations recently so I know this as a fact. Dr. browns facility charged me way more too. I called my insurance to find out why as they didn’t cover the whole amount and they told me they would have if I went hospital as it is cheaper.

      Explain that…

    • Politricks says:

      Personally I feel that GP fees need some form of regulation. Some of the fees that you guys charge for basic tests etc. are outrageous and one of the, if not the, biggest contributor to our spiraling healthcare costs.

  9. Stevie says:

    Brown being active. Where the hell is Premier Burt.

  10. puzzled says:

    “moral support” ?

    Look at the make up.
    What is Most Reverend the Left Hon. Tweed doing there.

    And the rent a crew from Peoples Camp Came.

  11. Bill says:

    Dr Brown I am sorry that you had to close down. Is another company opening a MRI ct scan business? It is hard running a successfull business in Bermuda.

  12. swing voter says:

    Government do what they do…PLP UBP OBA and the new PLP all make decisions that are not in the best interest of the public. donno about going public with this….he’s got money, a QC and a friendly government and by extension, a friendly BHB….this can be settled quietly, no need to close up shop….whish I had his resources and clout when I was told no and to go away back in 2008….I still remember words to the effect that “if you can’t compete then get out of business”….the irony of it all

  13. Jus' Wonderin' says:

    You want proof why we go backwards as an island…look at the picture of everyone sitting down. This is why we go backwards with all the old BS and old mentalities being forced upon everyone…

    • wahoo says:

      I must admit that crowd don’t look too enthusiastic and where are de placards? Tweedivieve never goes anywhere without paper and crayons.

    • Onion Juice says:

      And if it were a group of young men you would have called them thugs.
      Cant win.

      • Jus' Wonderin' says:

        No I would have called them more progessive thinkers lol and I would be happy that young people actually cared enough to show up and maybe try and provide their generational thoughts and opinions rather than the washed up old thoughts, etc.

  14. Jus' Wonderin' says:

    Bermuda currently has three CT scanners, placing us above the OECD average, and among the highest in the world for CT scans per person.”

    And EB claims it’s not fishy or anything LMFAOOOOOOOO….all about de dollas bra!

  15. Mark says:

    I wouldn’t trust him to pop a zit!

  16. Guy Smiley says:

    Man, all I can keep thinking about is the cement silos. Actually, they aren’t closed though….just basically stolen and given to someone else.

    Have they moved them yet?…

  17. Warwick West says:

    LMFAO. Talk about Rent a Crowd. All the regulars! Zane, Tweed, Furbert, Burgess and, and….. Arent some of these people currently serving MPs? The MAJOR Conflict of Interest being just one of the several Elephants in the Room!!!

  18. Family Man says:

    All those grannies up front makes it look like they were expecting some pepper spray.

    • Onion Juice says:

      All those grannies up front were protesting and fighting for a better Bermuda over 50 years ago. So they know first hand when the powers that be abuse their power, they lived through it.
      How would you feel if someone disrespected your grannie.

      • Sage says:

        Hey Onion, which one is your grannie??

      • Justin says:

        If my granny got pepper sprayed while blocking The House of Parliament then I’d tell her she deserved it.

        • Onion Juice says:

          Obviously you dont know the History about Bermuda Blacks protesting and the sacrifices they endured so we can have a better life today.
          Or maybe your family had undeserved privilege.

          • Zevon says:

            Underserved privelige is where you expect people to pay through the nose for ct scans.
            The world doesn’t owe Brown his high income. He needs to check his privelige.

          • bdaboy says:

            “undeserved privilege.”

            Such as yourself and ewart.

            You need to check your supremacy at the door.

            LOL@OJ

    • Gabriel says:

      You’d be in trouble if it was my grannie! I got plenty of licks from her and there’s plenty more where that came from!

  19. Spanner breath says:

    He says with the possibility of 4 job losses. How many lost there job at st,George’s golf course. Just saying.

    • puzzled says:

      Turn that wrench Spanner.
      Right on.

    • Onion says:

      Also, MRIs take 15-90 minutes so say 10 per day. So the machine was making $10,000 per day and now it’s only making $7000 per day. Tragic.

  20. Dick francis says:

    What on earth has this got to do with Zane, burgess, tweed and Furbert?
    Things that make you go mmmmmm

  21. Truth says:

    We had to deceive you.

  22. Timbuc says:

    Lick your wounds like us small business company that had to
    Fold. You failed us by taking care of your own folks. Premier Burt
    knows the truth that’s why he got my vote. OBA was in office one term
    and laid a path for thier base. What did you do for us Brown.

  23. Infidelguy says:

    Jerome Lynch says that they have no choice but to close their facility. That’s simply not true. The other choice is to abide by the ruling of the Bermuda Health Council and reduce the cost of their imaging services.

    This is about making healthcare a little bit more affordable to more people. For goodness sake, the government is offering the affected entities subsidies! What more does he want?

    Don’t you want to a “Better and Fairer Bermuda” Dr.Brown”? That’s what your party wants.

    • Cow Polly says:

      And why does Dr Brown need a British QC? Don’t you think he should walk the walk and hire a Bermudian?????

  24. Up D hill says:

    Ewart Brown thinks he is some cleaver business man ,, here is a news flash for you Brown ,,,,, your not!! The other sad faces there must have lost money too.. what goes around comes around!

  25. Anti B says:

    the five musketeers revival what a load of utter C**P. looks suspicious like a splinter group of the plp forming

  26. rene says:

    Why is government supporting the revenue stream of a company accused of over subscribing tests, as stated on many ocassions Bermuda has a higher rate of CT testing anywhere. It’s almost like it’s an endorsement of messing with insurance companies and driving up rates for Bermudians. Is there anyone that will stand up to his bullying.

  27. Ringmaster says:

    Zane DeSilva says he is there in a private capacity. (Happy to be in photo shoots with the FIFA President). However he is a Minister and part of Cabinet as is Minister Kim Wilson. In the real world, where there are ethics and accountability, by participating in this show with an ex Premier he is showing his opposition to the Government and should require immediate resignation. But this is Bermuda and accountability, good Governance and compliance by Ministers with rules don’t apply. Just think how many buses could be bought, and scholarships awarded, from the cost overruns from the previous PLP term.

  28. Me says:

    Did someone make him premier again ? His ole ministers are there

  29. Triangle Drifter says:

    Wonder if that is the same group of old people who got pushed upfront to catch the pepper spray?

  30. Truth be told says:

    So why are Zane and Tweed there? This whole little charade is really weird.. what is he up to?

    • Gabriel says:

      They are there because they demanded price controls and affordable healthcare…oh wait… why where they there?

    • Spanner breath says:

      They were told to be there! Amazing who still has power, and a lot of it.

  31. aceboy says:

    It is bit of a conundrum isn’t it?

    There are people in the picture pushing for price controls at a press conference where the former Premier’s business blames a form of price control for its demise.

    I mean….you can’t make this stuff up.

  32. Joe Bloggs says:

    Why are people surprised that Dr. Brown still has his staunch PLP supporters? Did you really think he was gone?

  33. Seriously??? says:

    Ok, so let me get this straight. Under his leadership, the former PLP administration got rid of the Indigent Clinic at the hospital, which provided free health care to all seniors. At the time he claimed that it did not provide ‘dignity’ to seniors. Now, 2 of the 3 entities receiving ‘subsidies’ from the current PLP administration to the tune of $400 per patient, are owned by him. On top of that these same seniors, many sitting in support of him at his private business, are now paying Future Care out of their pensions and have to decide whether to eat or have medical treatment. Something which they wouldn’t have to do if he hadn’t gotten rid of the Indigent Clinic.

    So the person who previously capitalized on seniors for his personal business is now exploiting them again to justify being given taxpayers’ money for something that he took away from the seniors, to begin with. SMH. You really cannot make this stuff up.

  34. Brilliance of Who says:

    Lets keep this short, hopefully Brilliance of Who is astute enough to quickly make the necessary changes:

    1) Change current Bermuda Health Council members

    2) Change Minister of Health.

  35. So Long Bye Bye says:

    Helloo yo lot,

    Health Council, Minister or Permanent Secretary……..one of you will be singing so long bye bye soon