Hospital district approves increases
The board of directors of Marion County Hospital District #1 approved increases in charges for patients and employee pay raises Nov. 29 during a special board meeting following a board retreat.
A charge master program was recommended by Bob Jobin of QHR, the district's consulting firm, to identify areas that charges need to be increased. Some areas will have a five percent increase, others may be as much as 10 to 15 percent. In the end, the board decided an average increase of 10 percent was allowable.
Employees will be eligible for a merit pay increase up to four percent.
In other business:
— Marion County Clerk Carol Maggard will be contacted by board president Gene Winkler regarding hospital board candidates being placed on the general election ballot in 2006.
— Board members were appointed to committees. Winkler appointed board treasurer Greg Bowers and board member Martin Tice to the finance committee, and board member Judy Reno and board secretary Peggy Blackman to the bylaws committee.
— Debbie Craig of St. Luke Living Center announced the center will begin accepting hospice patients through the Harry Hynes Hospice organization.
— Board meetings will be held once a month at 7 p.m., instead of 7:30 p.m., on the third Tuesday.
The board of directors met at noon Thursday to review the accounts payable report.
Accounts payable during November and the first two weeks of December totaled $187,400.
The board no longer will approve vouchers prior to payment if it is a budgeted expense and less than $5,000.
The next board meeting will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the clinic basement.
