Hospital board approves Medicare Cost Report

The Hot Springs County Memorial Hospital Board approved Nov. 24 the hospital’s 2015 Medicare Cost Report, which details information about the facility and is necessary for critical access facilities like HSCMH.

The report, which is “tax-like” in its structure and is over 100 pages long, was presented to the board in a condensed slideshow. The purpose of the report is to determine reimbursement to the hospital and is also used to update hospital payment rates.

Payment rates are expected to change slightly, with an inpatient per diem falling from $3,773 to $3,363, a swing bed per diem will fall from $2,858 to $2,398, and percentage of ooutpatient allowable gross charges will rise from 56 to 57 percent.

After the presentation, the board approved the report, which was sent to Eide Bailly, LLC, a Fargo, N.D. based accounting firm for review. Eide Bailly will prepare the cost report.

Bill Williams, Chairman of the Board, noted that, “All critical care facilities have to have a financial report like this,” and that the process is not unique to HSCMH.

The board also approved the purchase of surgical saws for orthopedic surgeries, which would allow for surgeons to schedule two surgeries back to back and would allow for more time to sterilize the saws between uses.

The saws cost a total of $12,815, and were purchased at a large discount.

Robin Roling, HSCMH CEO, then updated the board about the hospital’s MRI project, which is currently 2.1 percent due to asbestos testing and removal, which will end up costing between $2-5,000.

The hospital was approved to spend $1.5 million on the project, and so far the current estimated budget is $1,478,000. Completion of the project is slated for Jan. 29.

Roling then informed the board of updates in regard to the Master Facility Plan update, which is being undertaken by Erdman strategic planning firm. Members of Erdman have reviewed HSCMH square footage, and this week Roling will meet wth Vice President of Architecture Tim Casey and Rustin Becker, Executive Vice President of Strategic Planning, to review concepts.

Two community meetings are scheduled for Monday, Dec. 7 and Tuesday, Dec. 8 from 5:30-7 p.m. in the hospital conference room. The meetings will be similar to those held on Nov. 12-13 which discussed the first steps of the formation of a new Master Facility Plan,