Hospital Crisis Averted

What could have resulted in an immediate financial disaster for the Retreat Nursing Home has temporarily been averted, according to Jasper Memorial Chief Executive Officer Curt Roberts.
Mr. Roberts explained that the hospital’s administrative staff received written notification on December 27 that Medicaid reimbursement rates would be sharply declining as of February 1.

However, following a strategic campaign launched
toward the state legislature, the Dept. of Community Health voted to exclude critical access hospital-based nursing homes until July 1, 2003. {{more}}

The cut will reduce funding to nursing homes drastically, in particular, it would have cost the Retreat some $250,000 in monies as of this Saturday.

“Eleven percent of our operating funds would have been affected with just a month’s notification,” said the administrator.

Although the cut will eventually affect the local facility, the extension will allow for the discovery of other sources of revenue. Mr. Roberts said he enlisted the help of several local personalties including hospital patients, employees, boards, and community leaders also, state representatives Curtis Jenkins and Channel.
“More and more I am appreciating the support we get from our county which I understand is not commonplace everywhere,” said Mr. Roberts.

Relative to the recent Medicaid predicament, he reported that the office of congressman Mac Collins has extended to the local facility an invitation to utilize the office’s grant writer for research.

Financial Highlights
•A December profit of $38,000 with a year-to-date profit of $21,000 for the hospital. The Retreat had a December profit of $21,000 with a year-to-date profit of $110,000.

•Hospital volumes are up from the previous year in the departments of admissions, operations, emergency, laboratory and radiology. Additionally, revenues have increased 30 percent from the prior year and expenses have increased by 10 percent.

Health services board members were very complimentary with regard to the financial upswing at the facility.

“Numbers are good but what’s good to hear is the positive feedback from the community,” said chairman Steve Jordan.

Operational Highlights
•A third emergency room opened at the hospital thereby doubling the facility’s emergency capacity.

•The consolidation of the local pharmacy department with Oconee Regional Medical Center’s.

•Negotiations between the county’s insurance provider United Healthcare and the hospital have begun.

•Employee evaluations have been completed and merit raises implemented.

•Lobbying efforts included visits to the state Capitol and the nation’s Capitol, and visits from congressman Jim Marshall and congressman Collins’ staff.

•The brick campaign is currently underway.
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Retreat administrator Donna Holman explained that emergency plumbing repairs were completed last week following a pipe bursting in the dining hall. She reported that 54 beds are currently occupied and that there were three vacant nursing positions.
T
he board approved revamped business office policies on financial assistance, collection of self-pay, third party follow-up, third party billing, general operational policies and tabled the employee discounts policy for further review.

The board entered in executive session prior to adjourning.