MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF
THE BOARD OF MANAGERS OF
THE WALKER COUNTY HOSPITAL DISTRICT
March 28, 2018
STATE OF TEXAS X
COUNTY OF WALKER X
The Board of Managers of the Walker County Hospital District, Walker County, Texas met in a regular session, open to the public, Wednesday, March 28, 2018 at 6:00 p.m. at Huntsville Memorial Hospital, Huntsville, Texas.
Members of the Board present included:
Chairman, Anne Woodard
Vice Chairman, Judy Emmett
Secretary, Jerry Larrison
Manager, Curtis Montgomery
Manager, David Toronjo
Also in attendance were: Keli Molina, WCHD Administrative Assistant; Ralph Beaty, Office Administrator; Joe Henderson, Attorney; Brenda Strama, Attorney (by phone); Max Owens, HMH Acting CEO and Wade Thibodeaux, Walker County Press.
Agenda Item #1: Call meeting to order.
Chairman Anne Woodard called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
Agenda Item #2: Consider approving the minutes for the Regular Meeting held February 28, 2018 and the Special Meeting held on March 20, 2018.
Mr. Larrison made a motion to approve the minutes for the regular Meeting held on February 28, 2018 and the Special Meeting on March 20, 2018. Dr. Toronjo made a second to the motion. The motion passed by unanimous vote.
Agenda Item #3: Comments from the public. If you wish to address the Board of Managers, please register prior to the meeting being called to order.
None at this time.
Agenda Item #4 EXECUTIVE SESSION: The Board of Managers will convene in Closed Session pursuant to Government Code Section 551.071 to consult and deliberate with the District’s attorneys to discuss the legal issues raised in the possible sale of the Old Huntsville Memorial Hospital properties and the lawsuit and report on the proceedings in the lawsuit attempting to enjoin any sale filed on March 5, 2018 under Cause No. 18-28672 styled Pamela Smither Covington, Miles Allan “Bob” Smither and Murray Smither v. Huntsville Memorial Hospital and Walker County Hospital District, In the 278th Judicial District Court of Walker County, Texas, presently set for hearing on the Request for Temporary Injunction for March 26, 2018.
No Action.
Agenda Item #5 EXECUTIVE SESSION: The Board of Managers will convene in Closed Session pursuant to Government Code Section 551.071 to consult and deliberate with the District’s attorneys to discuss the draft agreement from the District’s attorney regarding the abatement of the Notice of Breach Agreement previously sent to the Huntsville Memorial Hospital on January 9, 2018. The attorney will be available by phone to discuss questions regarding this attorney-client communication.
Reconvene: Open Session for action following Executive Session.
Agenda Item #6: To consider the proposed final agreement from the District’s attorney regarding the abatement of the Notice of Breach Agreement previously sent to the Huntsville Memorial Hospital on January 9, 2018. If agreed, take action on proposed agreement to abate the Notice letter of January 9, 2018 to abate the Notice of Breach.
Mrs. Emmett made a motion to take action on proposed agreement to abate the Notice letter of January 9, 2018 to abate the Notice of Breach. Mr. Larrison made a second to the motion. The motion passed by unanimous vote.
Agenda Item #7: Consider approving payment of indigent care bills.
Chairman Anne Woodard gave the Indigent care report. The indigent Care Bills total for March 2018 are $7,994.71. Chairman Anne Woodard stated she had talked to the County Jail Auditor Patricia Allen and the Monthly Medical bill went down from $9,194.00 to $7,741.00. Walker County Hospital District bills are at 55% and should only be billed 44% based on what we have been billed by the County for October 2017 thru January 2018. A credit of $5,812 will be made towards Walker County Hospital District’s account and the County has just sent the hospital district an adjusted bill for February that reflects this credit. Dr. Montgomery made a motion to pass the payment of Indigent care Bills. The motion was seconded by Mrs. Emmett. The motion passed by a unanimous vote.
Agenda Item #8: Review and consider approving the monthly financial report.
The Statement of Revenues Expenditures for the month ending February 2018 were presented. Revenue for the month were $813,472.05 and expenditures were $607,940.16. Dr. Montgomery made a motion to approve the financial report as presented. The motion was seconded by Mr. Larrison. The motion passed by unanimous vote.
Agenda Item #9: Consider approving payment of monthly bills.
The amount of March 2018 monthly bills were $20,431.87. After some discussion and explanation of the itemized bills, Mr. Larrison made a motion to pay the monthly bills as presented. Mrs. Emmett made a second to the motion. The motion passed by unanimous vote.
Agenda Item #10: Approve recording of March 2018 budgeted indigent care expense in the amount of $568,334.00.
Chairman Anne Woodard gave a brief review of the budgeted indigent care expenses. Dr. Montgomery made a motion to approve the recording of the monthly indigent care expense for March 2018. The motion was seconded by Mr. Larrison. The motion passed by unanimous vote.
Agenda Item #11: Consider giving approval to Walker County Appraisal District to accept the bids received on the properties in trust owned by the taxing jurisdictions.
Mr. Larrison made a motion to accept the bids as presented. Chairman Anne Woodard made a second. The motion passed by a unanimous vote.
Agenda Item #12: Comments and reports from managers and HMH administration.
Max Owens HMH Acting CEO gave a brief report on HMH and stated the volume was up for the month of February with a 4-1/2% in admissions, Emergency Room down a little, Obstetrics also down some but overall about 11-1/2% growth in revenue. Mr. Owens stated the clinics in Livingston and Willis will be closing their doors on May 31, 2018. He also added that HMH is doing everything they can to get cost down and move forward.
Agenda Item #13: Adjourn meeting.
There being no further business, Chairman Anne Woodard adjourned the meeting at 7:25 pm.
__________________________________
Chairman Anne Woodard
Walker County Hospital District
{Seal}
Attest: _______________________________
Jerry Larrison, Secretary
Walker County Hospital District