Does NIHD’s finances warrant an investigation?

After reading the article of Nov. 19 about Northern Inyo Healthcare District’s financial health, I am left with questions that need to be addressed by the administration and board. The district’s website provides the new CFO’s report to the board. In it, Mr. DelRossi refers to the audits by EideBailly for 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 and states that the audits reported material weaknesses in the district’s financial reports. These audits are provided to the board in the December following the financial year (i.e. Dec. 2020 and Dec. 2021). His report goes on to excuse the CEO and the board of responsibility as they are dependent on the CFO reporting correct financial numbers. Did they ignore the audits? Were the audits so opaque that only the new CFO realized what they were reporting? Why was the collections department so understaffed as to limit the ability of the district to maintain a balanced budget? What is the financial status of the two pension plans for hospital employees? And the final question is, how will adding a Financial Advisory Committee help if they are still dependent on the CFO to provide information?

Do we need an investigation by a Grand Jury or the State Attorney General?

Christine Hanley Bishop, retired NIHD employee