thursday, jcnuary 22, 1976
daily nebraskan
page 7
Liability
increase rates
at Med Center
By Kim Shepherd
Inflation and the increasing cost of liability insurance
have caused room rate increases at the University of
Nebraska Medical Center, said Arnie Kimmel, assistant
administrator of university hospitals and clinics.
CjJL-' Kimmel said that although insurance claims against
Cj5& b S' Midwest hospitals are significantly lower than the
national average,' the increasing number of nationwide
claims has caused insurance companies to raise hospitals'
insurance rates.
The medical center will pay $130,970 for liability
coverage in fiscal 1976-77. This is an increase of more
than 300 per cent over last year. The medical center buys
its insurance from Aetna Life and Casualty.
Increased expenses, combined with a IS per cent in
crease in food costs and a 25 to SO per cent increase in the
cost of laboratory supplies, caused the medical center to
raise its room rates Jan. 1 , Kimmel said.
A check with Omaha area hospitals showed the medical
center's increases, which averaged 6.8 per cent, make its
rates comparable to others. Three of Omaha's ten
hospitals raised their rates Jan. 1, and another did so a few
months ago.
Daily rates for private rooms at the medical center
were increased from $82 to $84, for semi-private rooms
from $67 to $71 and for four-bed wards from $62 to $66.
Except for Bergan Mercy Hospital, the rates are within $2
to $4 of other Omaha area hospitals.
The rate increases will, not add profit to the hospital,
but will enable it to meet expenses, Kimmel said, adding
that hospital services will not be affected.
"We hope to improve them (services), but you would
have to say that this (rate increase) just keeps up with the
inflationary rate," said Pete Boughn, executive assistant
to Dr. Robert Sparks, medical center Chancellor.
Medical center officials said rate increases will not
directly affect the amount of federal money the hospital
receives because most of that money is reimbursement for
services provided to Medicare and Medicaid patients.
Boughn said the hospital also is subsidized by the state
and anyone needing care will be treated, regardless of
their ability to pay.
pit I
stop
1 976 Vega: Good parlor, 'adequate' car
By Jim Williams
The last time this car column covered a specific car
was. . jah, long, long ago. But this week, for you technical
reality fans, I put myself in a new Chevrolet Vega Estate
and headed for the secret Pit Stop test track for a
thorough thrash.
Vegas have been popular college cars since their 1971
introduction, but the 1976 model includes some needed
changes that should improve its image with car people.
The old bouncy rear suspension is gone for a better
design from the Monza super coupe, and Chevy's heralded
"Dura-Build" warranty shows they think they have the
engine's overheating problem licked.
The Vega's engine block is lightweight aluminum alloy,
like a Ferrari's. But overheating an aluminum engine can
ruin it by warping the block, and the old Vega engine
tended to overheat. The new mill has more cooling
capacity to lessen the problem.
So the 1976 Vega is acceptable mechanically. But the
wagon has some unique advantages over other body
styles. The notchback Vega has room for four people, but
not much else. The hatchback carries a lot, but its sloping
roof cuts into rear headroom. The wagon is the best of
both-its flat roof stays up out of riders' hair, while the
rear load floor offers a 36- by 42-inch area, or 64- by 42
inch with the back seat folded away.
The cargo travels at low rates. The owner says the test
car gets 18 miles-a-gaUon in town, 21 on the road, even
encumbered with gas-wasting automatic transmission.
The Estate package takes away some of the "bare
bones" feeling. The interior is handsome and tasteful,
although the instrument panel is sparse-80-m.pJi. speed
ometer, fuel gauge and a bank of warning lights.
The front seats are soft and comfortable, although they
don't give much side support. The rear seats offer plenty
of head and elbow room, but the knees are very tight if
the front seats are slid back. It's an acceptable four
passenger car only if all four are short.
So the Vega Estate is a creditable storeroom and not
a bad parlor. But as an automobile? It's adequate, but
flawed. If enthusiastic driving is your pleasure and a Vega
your heart's desire, order the GT package. Its wider
wheels and tires, sway bars and other parts will cure
several handling ills I found in my test drive.
The trick stuff won't give the Vega much more power,
and it is a woefully wimpy car. It has almost no torque,
taking 24.4" seconds to go from zero to 60 m.pJi. A VW
Rabbit will do this in 13.1 seconds, a Honda Civic CVCC
in 13.3. Passing or merging in the Vega requires advance
planning.
Handling has more potential. The driving position is
very good if you like to drive arms-out. The small, padded
steering wheel gives good road feel. Those used to power
steering may think the Vega steers hard, but I like it.
But the steering is connected to badly undersized
tires. The car understeers moderately (tries to straighten
out) in tight turns while the Positraction rear axle clunks
alarmingly. If you lift off the gas in a fast, tight turn, the
tail tries to get ahead of the nose (trailing-throttle over
steer). And the rear brakes lock too soon. Brake force
should be proportioned so the front wheels slide first,
but the Vega's is not. This means if you step hard on the
brakes in a sharp turn, the car may spin.
So there you have the Vega Estate. A nice car for
taking your sorority sisters out for pizza but frustrated
Fittipaldis must look further to meet their needs.
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1976 VEGA ESTATE SPECIFICATIONS
Type: 4-passengcr station wagon v Transmission: 3 -speed automatic
Length: 175.4" Width: 65.4" Whedbase: 97.0" Tank capacity: 16 gallons
Engine: 140 cJ. (2.3 liter), 4-hvline, single overhead cam Tires: bias-belted, A78-13
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