Maverick County Hospital District starts new fiscal year with $235,342 operating loss
By: Jose G. Landa
Copyright 2013 Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc.
The Maverick County Hospital District Board of Trustees held their regular meeting on Wednesday, October 23, 2013, at 12 Noon at the Second Floor Administration Conference Room located at 3406 Bob Rogers Drive in Eagle Pass, Texas, with a Financial Report by Chief Executive Officer Elcira Bares and Finance Director Terri Contreras-Patlan that the local hospital district had a loss of $235,342 for its first month of the new fiscal year 2013-2014 in September.
A review of the September 2013 Statement of Revenues and Expenditures Report of the Maverick County Hospital District reflects that the Medical Office Building at 3406 Bob Rogers Drive had an operating loss of $33,261; the Maverick County Hospital District Administration had an operating loss of $46,492; the Diabetes Self-Management Education Program had an operating loss of $5,539; the Breast Cervical Cancer Services program had an operating loss of $8,798; the Medical Financial Assistance Program had an operating loss of $32,810; the Ryan White Program had an operating loss of $27,474; and the Physician Specialty Group had an operating loss of $80,967, totaling an overall operating loss of $235,342. To offset the $235,342 operating loss for September 2013, the Maverick County Hospital District made a capital contribution from its financial reserves for the same amount.
On other business on the October 23rd Agenda, the Maverick County Hospital District Board of Trustees approved to authorize Chief Executive Officer Elcira Bares to retain the legal services of the Watts Guerra Law Firm, the Nevarez Law Group, and the Law Office of Carlos Uresti to represent the local hospital district in collecting non-paid or late-paid medical insurance payments
for health care services rendered pursuant to the Texas Prompt Pay Law Act.
Another item discussed on the Agenda under Old Business was Item V-A regarding the renting and/or selling of the Maverick County Hospital District real property located on South Bibb Street, which is currently leased to Maverick County for $1 per year until December 31st, to an individual, business, or organization. MCHD CEO Bares recommended the Board consider leasing the real property to generate income for the district. Trustee Calderon expressed his concerns that Administration had not presented any projected financial numbers or written proposals to the Board despite the Board’s approval two or more months ago to proceed with the lease or sale of the real property to either Maverick County or any other interested party through the private real estate market in accordance with State law. The Board of Trustees approved, once again, to authorize CEO Elcira Bares to place the real property for lease or sale in the private real estate market in accordance with State law.
Another item discussed under Old Business was Agenda Item V-B regarding the transmitting of Board meetings live through the MCHD Webpage or the City of Eagle Pass’ Public Channel. CEO Elcira Bares reported that the estimated cost to broadcast live the Board meetings through the hospital district’s webpage was between $200-$300 per month and that she had met with Time Warner Cable and the City of Eagle Pass on the cost of transmitting the meetings on Public Access Cable Channel 14 but did not yet have estimated costs from them to present to the Board.
Bares informed the Board that in the interim, she had hired Armando Gutierrez of CSN Channel 13 to videotape the Board meetings commencing with the October 23rd meeting. Trustee Calderon expressed his concerns with Administration not having completed gathering the costs and materials to present to the Board so that the Board could make an informed decision at this October 23rd meeting since the Board had already approved at its September 25th meeting for her to present them this important information at the October 23rd meeting. Trustee Calderon stated that he did not have a problem with hiring Armando Gutierrez of CSN to videotape the Board meetings, but did inquire of CEO Bares from which district account or program was she paying for the videotaping services. CEO Bares replied from the district’s advertising account. Trustee Calderon noted that CEO Bares had not requested Board approval for these services. CEO Bares replied that she had authority to enter into contracts up to $5,000 without Board approval. Trustee Calderon noted that last year CEO Bares had presented all the advertising services contracts to the Board at a regular meeting and was just inquiring why the same had not been done this year.
The Board requested CEO Bares to present the estimated costs for transmitting the Board meetings live through the district’s webpage and/or Public Cable Channel 14 at its next meeting in November 2013 so that the Board can take formal action.
Another matter discussed under New Business was Item VI-E regarding the acceptance of the TCDRS (Texas County & District Retirement System) retirement plan for 2014. Chairman Farias asked CEO Bares what was her recommendation and Bares replied to reduce the employees contribution to the retirement plan from 7% to 6% providing the hospital district a savings of almost $40,000. Trustee Calderon asked CEO Bares if she had had a meeting with the employees to discuss their retirement plan and preferences for 2014, to which Bares replied “No.” Trustee Calderon asked the district’s employees present at the Board meeting what did they think about Administration’s recommendation to reduce their retirement plan and they unanimously stated they did not like or agree with it. The Board tabled the retirement plan agenda item until the full Board is present at its November meeting as Trustee Humberto Duran excused himself early from the Board meeting due to a previous appointment and Trustee Joaquin L. Rodriguez was absent.
The Board also went into Executive Session pursuant to Sections 551.071 and 551.074 of the Texas Local Government Code to discuss personnel matters in consultation with legal counsel, but the Board did not take any action upon its return to the Open Session of the meeting.
The Maverick County Hospital District Board of Trustees include Chairman Juan Manuel “Chuco” Farias, Vice-Chairman Rito Valdez, III, Humberto Duran, Joaquin L. Rodriguez, and Ricardo E. Calderon.
