The ACA got off to a bumpy start here in Oregon under the unfortunate auspices of Oracle.  Nevertheless,  the number of signups in this very small state are adequate to have saved Oregon hospitals over $400 million on charity care in 2013, according to an article in this morning’s SJ.

“ACA: Community health wins

We wonder if opponents to the Affordable Care Act — Obamacare — saw this one coming.

This week in Salem, Andy Davidson, the president of the Oregon Association of Hospitals and Health Systems, told The Associated Press that hospitals in the state are spending far less on uncompensated charity care since more Oregonians signed up for health insurance — Obamacare.

‘The ACA has been so successful, and the uptick happened so quickly that charity care has really dropped significantly,’ Davidson said.

The result, Davidson added, is that hospitals around the state will continue to spend the amount of money they used to spend on charity care to fund other public services like research, health screenings and education.

According to the Oregon Health Authority, hospitals spent more than $400 million on charity care in 2013. All but two of Oregon’s hospitals are nonprofit enterprises, and those nonprofits are required to benefit the community to retain tax-exempt status.

Simply put: Fewer Oregonians needing charity; more funding for community health needs.

Despite all the continuing debate about the ACA and the constant drumbeat from Republicans who continually promise they will kill the bill, this news sounds like a benefit, doesn’t it?”

Once I was in the emergency room in a large public hospital in Seville.

While waiting for what turned out to be excellent, absolutely free care and take-away prescriptions, I chatted with a local woman about state-provided health care.  We also spoke about state-provided education.  My Spanish is not great, but I’m pretty sure she said that, if she had to choose, she’d rather live in a country that puts public health before public schooling.  She didn’t have to make that choice.

When I tried to explain to the receptionist there what my insurance card was, everything was lost in translation.

Headed downtown early Monday to catch the ferry to Liberty Island.  (How many times this week have I said something took my breath away?  And to think this was “optional” on my list!)  Our sublime Lady of the Huddled Masses, lifting her lamp.

From the sublime to the ridiculous, this, I thought, would be right up there with a Barbie BVM!

From Liberty Island back on the ferry to Ellis Island.

As many as 3000 immigrants were processed through here every day during the peak years.  Normally, only 2% were detained and slept here.

Among the detainees were those with health concerns who were treated in the Island’s hospital, and women, many with many children, who hoped their male family member would arrive to receive them; otherwise they were sent “back home.”  I thought of things both huge and petty –apprehension and fear of being separated from a child and no disposable diapers or even plastic panties.

I was moved by many photographs of the immigrants, dressed up the their best coats hats, neckties, arriving with hearts full of hope.  I was surprised to learn of the good care the detainees received.  There were beds, laundries, classrooms, pretty good food, free medical care, much of it provided  by generous charity groups from the City.  Didn’t see a single Border Patrol Officer in a Hummer.

Times change. Can’t wait to share what I learned about the Ellis Island immigrants with my students tonight where for our last class of the term will make sure everyone knows the answers to the 100 USCIS questions on the Citizenship Test. If you were lucky enough to be born here, cut and paste this link into your browser and see how you do.

Click to access 100q.pdf

Late in the afternoon, we made our way back to Central Park, using our much-used subway passes for the penultimate time.  We had time to walk to Tavern on the Green for dinner.  Along the way, we paused to “imagine all these things.”

Had a lovely view from our table as night fell.

And possibly the best food I’ve ever eaten (a gift from Joannie).

What a great way to end a wonderful week.

NYC is such a great place to visit.  It is the center of the earth in so many ways.

And Salem, Oregon, is such a great place to live. No matter how good traveling is, coming home is always the best. The cherry blossoms are all in bloom over in front of the capitol.  Taking pictures there is on my to-do list today.   First, I’ll dump my suitcase full of entirely black dirty clothes in the laundry.  (I do know the style in New York City!)

Sunday in New York.  Best Sunday ever!  First, morning service at St. Thomas on 5th Avenue with the choir of men and boys.

The nave:

The east portal:

The east portal as depicted by Norman Rockwell:

He called it “Lift Up Thine Eyes.”  Good advice even today.  In today’s shot, everyone is looking at a device.

Took the guided tour and saw so many magnificent things; but this tiny engraving near a war memorial touched me.  Truth:

Then down the street — I mean avenue — to the Plaza

for tea.Then after gorging on fifteen tiny little things for two hours, waddled back to St. T.’s for Evensong followed by an organ concert.  Sunday can’t get much better than that.

A day at MOMA scores a 12 out of 10.  So many favorites, for lots of different reasons.

This made me laugh. “Mine are perkier than yours.”

And this beautiful child’s hair was definitely a work of modern art:

Now off to Lincoln Center for the Philharmonic, about which, more later.

I know you aren’t supposed to say anything if you can’t say something nice, but: Frank Lloyd Wright:  The Guggenheim? Why?  It’s just so basic that form should follow function and not just be eccentric.  Okay.  Okay.  So I am a bit provincial, but I had just come from the very user-friendly Met where you could never take it all in. Then on to wandering around in circles at the Gugg trying to find things to see and finding that most of the space had been given over to a huge, non-visual exhibit that can seriously only be described as a collection of printed minutia collected over a lifetime by a man who was a hoarder and had entirely too much time on his hands.

Ah well, I did love the early Picassos.The Ironer was my personal favorite.

Loved this charming Manet, “Before the Mirror.”

Not to worry should one have a sinker.  Food is always near by.

Must dash out now for MOMA, which I’m sure will not disappoint.

And just a quick mention of last night’s play “It’s Only a Play,”for which we had excellent seats and loved seeing all these folks up close and personal:

Times Square is always a party.