NRMC finances in the black

Friday, August 28, 2015

Nevada Daily Mail

The Nevada Regional Medical Center Board of Directors met to discuss future plans and events from the past month.

The Board of Directors started their meeting with a presentation from Tracy Burgkiwist, who represents The Center for Improvement in Health Care Quality.

CIQH, a hospital accreditation company, said they do three surveys once after four months, then after 18 months and then after 36 months, as a way to make sure the hospital is functioning the way it should.

Holly Bush, who is in charge of quality control said they would be an asset over their current accreditor because they are more "cost-effective and in-line with Medicare."

Burgkwist said CIQH works with hospitals big and small.

During a separate report, Bush told the board about what she called a "possible Hippocratic Oath breech."

Bush said, someone who, to the patient, resembled a doctor called a patient.

The patient gave the caller his social security number and his mother's maiden name.

"After an interview with [the patient] at a later time," Bush said. "We think it's safe to say there was not a breech, and that he fell victim to identify theft."

The board was told the patient was given advice to seek identity theft protection.

NRMC CEO Kevin Leeper, said he was excited to announce new dermatologist, Marija Tonkovic-Capin to the hospital. He said she would be on staff two or three days a month.

The hospitals' employee health insurance costs have increased by $1.4 million, according to Leeper's report. He said he plans to enhance the wellness program to assist NRMC's staff in staying healthier to reduce benefit costs.

During the financial report, Mike Harbor, Chief Financial Officer, said he was happy to announce the hospital is $10,000 "in the black."

"It's always great to be in the black," Steve Russ, Chairman of the Hospital Board said.

During the financial collection report, Harbor discussed NRMC's policy to tell the responsible party of payment expectations for services received, or will receive. For uninsured parties, the payment options available are a 55 percent discount on the balance due. This includes insurance patients for non-covered services. An additional 10 percent discount of the balance due (after the 55 percent discount) will be given if payment is made in full by cash, check or credit card within 30 days of receiving the first statement.

Payment options for the insured will be implemented with the monthly amount given the payments are more than $100. Any balance between $100 and $3,000 are required to be paid off within 1.5 years; the payment will be 1/18 of the balance. Balances between $3,001 and $6,000 are expected to be paid off in three years with payments of 1/36 the balance. If a payment is missed, or does not meet the monthly minimum, the account will be transferred to a collection agency automatically.

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