Personnel, Medicaid top RCH board agenda
PROTECTED CONTENT
If you’re a current subscriber, log in below. If you would like to subscribe, please click the subscribe tab above.
Username and Password Help
Please enter your email and we will send you a password reset link.
by Brenda Grose
Announced at Ringgold County Hospital’s Board of trustees meeting, Monday, July 28, was new head of rehabilitation, Nathan Nebel, PT. Nebel heads the newly contracted service, Inspire Rehab which began July 1.
Additionally, new to RCH will be tele-health electro physiology, a cardiology specialty provided by Mohit Chawla, MD.
Coming on board as the new infection prevention nurse will be Hannah Weeda, RN.
Rounding out employee news was recognition of Lesa Stackhouse, Lab manager, for 34 years with RCH.
Sandra Christensen from Mercy One was present to discuss potential impact from the federal bill recently passed by Congress which included new requirements and stipulations regarding Medicare and Medicaid.
She explained that hospitals are paid on a matching basis with state dollars matching federal dollars. Iowa is fortunately “grandfathered in” for funding until 2026 and approval is anticipated for funding for 2026.
Beginning in 2028, it is anticipated that “dollars will begin to pull down”. Christensen indicated that hospitals will need to start looking at the potential for fewer federal dollars and prepare for that situation. She also stated that Mercy One has a tool to calculate projections which will also help make spending decisions.
When questioned by the board about answers for those who might not qualify for government provided insurance coverage, Christensen responded that the Marketplace for insurance would be a possibility, that some people might go without insurance and hospitals could have to provide services and cover the expenses.
Reporting the last month of the fiscal year, CFO Clint Reynolds gave a brief overview of the financials to date.
Inpatient revenue was under-budget by $67K, outpatient revenue exceeded budget by $48K and primary and clinic revenue exceeded budget by $3K. Overall gross revenue was under-budget by $22K.
On the expense side, salaries and wages were over-budget for the month by $3K. Benefits were under-budget by $44K due mostly to claims being lower than anticipated. Contract labor was over by $428K in several departments and depreciation was under-budget by $3K.
Reynolds noted expenses included a new telemetry system purchased for cardiac rehab, a replacement vehicle for Senior Life Solutions and a new EKG for the lab.
Total operating expenses were under-budget by $15K. Year-to-date bottom line showed a gain of over $2M which exceeded the goal operating margin.
Nicky Gilbertson, CEO, reported the re-roofing project needed from the storms from April of last year have finally been worked through and the only out of pocket expenses look to be the deductible. The project is expected to start in the next week or two. Gilbertson said they are still working with FEMA and are anticipating FEMA will cover 90% of the out of pocket expense.
