This letter is in reference to the Oct. 5 article regarding Mountain States Health Alliance’s proposal to incorporate Unicoi County Memorial Hospital into the MSHA system.

Qualuable Medical Professionals LLC (Qualuable) seeks to formally clarify confusion related to who Qualuable is and its interest related to the UCMH issue as referenced in the article.

Qualuable is a group of more than 462 physicians with a mission to improve the quality and effectiveness of health care for the patients we collectively serve.

Formed under the guidelines set forth by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for accountable care organizations, Qualuable’s physicians are professionally responsible for advocating and ensuring quality care for their patients.

Today, Qualuable is focused on Medicare beneficiaries as directed by CMS. Organizationally, Qualuable takes a bona fide interest in those decisions that may affect the health and well-being of the patients we serve.

Qualuable physicians and patients utilize both Mountain States and Wellmont hospital systems, as well as community hospitals like UCMH.

Qualuable does not have an interest in and does not have specific information which would suggest promotion of one system over another related to UCMH’s selection.

Additionally, Qualuable does not wish to interfere with the efforts of these systems related to UCMH.

Qualuable’s interest is simply to understand the issues as they relate to patient care and to collaborate with the hospitals to make the best decisions to allow for the delivery of high quality and effective health care for our community.

Qualuable will continue to actively support and advocate for the health and well being of our patients, our communities and our health care systems.

SCOTT R. FOWLER

President and Chief Executive Officer

Qualuable Medical Professionals