Hospital to remain under HCA umbrella

Hospital trustees agreed Tuesday night to delay taking over the operation of Allen County Hospital and keeping it with Hospital Corporation of America on a month-to-month basis until they are comfortable with the Medicaid and Medicare model of reimbursement for critical access hospitals.
The change of hands was due to occur the first of the year.
The decision was on the advice of their attorney, Mark Thompson, of Kansas City.
“We need to get a better understanding of new government regulations and policies to maintain payment as a critical access hospital,” said Karen Gilpin, hospital trustee.
HCA is amenable to continuing the contract, said Alan Weber, county counselor who advises hospital trustees.
The decision pushes back the need to secure insurance and instigation of the $5 million working capital loan, among other things.

THE WALLS of the new hospital are being finished in the emergency room department and this week windows are being installed to completely seal the building from the elements.
Department heads walk through the new hospital every Tuesday morning at 7 o’clock to inspect their respective departments, said Larry Peterson, interim chief executive officer for the hospital.
Almost $30,000 in bills was paid, the bulk going to Health Facilities Group for architectural fees. BKD, the Kansas City auditing, received $1,600 and UMB, a bank in Kansas City, was paid $3,500 for a year’s worth of administrative fees, among lesser amounts.

TRUSTEES DEFERRED naming the new hospital until a meeting where all are present. In a poll conducted by the Register, Allen County Regional Medical Center received 74 percent of votes, among 11 names suggested.
Trustees agreed to engage a marketing firm to seek its input on a new name and logo.