LCHA approves credentialing eight physicians
The LeFlore County Hospital Authority and the LeFlore County Sales Tax Supported Hospital Authority had their regular monthly meetings Feb. 21 at Eastern Oklahoma Medical Center.
During the LCHA meeting, board members approved the credentialing of eight physicians. The initial appointments were Aaron Kelkhoff, M.D., Jeffery Wessler, M.D., Jana Goldberg, M.D. and Kamesh Sivagnanam, M.D. in telehealth cardiology services, while the board approved four non-provisional appointments — three for pathology services, Derek Irwin, M.D., You Lu, M.D. and Maria Ochoa, M.D. as well as one as a telehealth hospitalist, Aarti Attreya-Latusa, M.D. The board also approved the resignation of privileges of one physician, Dr. Derek Matheson, DO.
Other action included the appointment of officers for the 2023-24 officers which included Jennifer Manifold, Compliance Officer and Risk Manager; EOMC Chief Operating Officer Logan Hayes, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and Safety Officer; Wendy Mullins, Radiation Safety Officer and EOMC Chief Executive Bob Carter, QAPI Director.
The board also approved Resolution FY 2023-001 that identified staff having access and/or signature authority for all LCHA and LCSTSHA accounts.
Rick Alexander, partner with Eide Bailly Certified Public Accounting firm, presented that annual independent audit report for both the Sales Tax Supported Hospital Authority and the Hospital Authority. There were no major findings in the audit report and there was no “going concern” finding for the third year in a row.
Dr. Beth Hites presented the improving organization performance (IOP) report for December 2022 where she reported 46 inpatient discharges, 20 observation discharges and 19 swing bed discharges for the month. There were 1,126 patients treated in the emergency department with 50 patients transferred to a higher level of care. Clinic visits were 2,682 for the month.
The monthly infection prevention, safety committee and quality assurance and performance improvement (QAPI reports were presented and approved by the board.
Rick Wagner, Northeast Health Systems chief financial officer, presented the financial report for December 2022. Gross patient revenue was $4.36 million while net operating revenue was $1.94 million. Expenses came in above budget due to the nationwide increase in healthcare salaries and wages experienced since the onset of COVID and the ever-increasing drug and medical supply costs. The bottom line was that EOMC experienced a $113,298 loss compared to budget. Cash on hand was $4.28 million.
Carter reported on several topics including EOMC’s recruiting efforts to bring a family practice physician and a second hospitalist to town. EOMC is working with Medicus to recruit those providers. Carter also reported that the surgical department reopened Feb. 8 with Dr. Zbigniew Beyga providing general surgical care.
The grand opening for the outpatient physical therapy department was well attended by the community and is now open for business. The former physical therapy department will be remodeled and be utilized for inpatient physical, occupational and speech therapies programs once the roof has been replaced as approved by the board this past November.
Hospital administrators met with Phillip Smith, broker for INSURICA, to begin the process of renegotiating many of EOMC’s insurance contracts. Given the rise in inflation, Carter reported that he expects to see premium increases in most areas.
Carter further reported on the nationwide financial condition of healthcare as 2023 is predicted to be the worst financial year for hospitals in the history of healthcare. An article in “Becker’s Healthcare” reported that 631 rural hospitals across the nation are in danger of closing with 33 of those hospitals being in Oklahoma.
While the COVID virus continues across the nation, May 11 marks the end of the Public Health Emergency and any federal support for continued COVID related care. It is estimated that approximately 200,000 Oklahomans will lose their Medicaid coverage in the months after May 11. This will impact approximately 5,000 LeFlore county residents. Also, 2023 is the year where more than 50 percent of the Medicare age citizens will select a Medicare Advantage Plan instead of traditional Medicare. This will result in an increased workload on medical providers to get patient care approved and a decrease in revenue paid to providers.
Oklahoma’s Managed Medicaid program has been pushed back to April 2024 resulting in continued decreased payment for services provided. Carter stated that he wouldn’t be surprised if implementation wasn’t further delayed.
In the Sales Tax Supported Hospital Authority meeting, board members the financials for Jan. 31.