[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6455303,"mediaKeyId","5850621-84015b2cd7d57cbaf38fb96b579fe0fd","parentId",5850621,"title","Southwest Health Systems reports stronger operating margin, readies electronic records change; flags federal funding risk","audioSeconds",1456,"startMs",692000,"endMs",2148000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5850621-84015b2cd7d57cbaf38fb96b579fe0fd&start=692&end=2148","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5850621-84015b2cd7d57cbaf38fb96b579fe0fd/thumbnail_692000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6455303/Montezuma-County/Colorado/Southwest-Health-Systems-reports-stronger-operating-margin-readies-electronic-records-change-flags-federal-funding-risk","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6455303-4c06f8bec653f77db07159d085e5f8ad/orig.mp4?Expires=1770454671&Signature=D8CQhMxryw7qnbPUwceTh~0r6GGuReQAHILmXROLEcmHGsw3RoNWcOMleQCv6qLWoVBmY-LBXBxfiJPd-hTN1jQMlI89pagEKYp34Xnckg7ewiyrCcWkwHsfzRcAbC05718kYL81LFBCiJLI1ojqPPIP0XRq49l7I35I-nk~LnPvRBltG3nFjQhx1EosPKSEz83l1vuUg4z4WklZulaXRVofGerXL0FrgCi~72VvM1NIvs8gKdxNx6jYR3e0q5pvScFhqOmIqB98ZtdIiJqDqzPKlmkbjhI0WeBy1kzX8F35sRwuGdmDtmtpjcLlLKc5JnULR8RLv84qESqUe~CCmg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Montezuma County","date","2025-09-29T13:52:30Z","article","Southwest Health Systems delivered a detailed operating update at a Montezuma County Board of County Commissioners workshop, with hospital representative Joe Thine reporting a return to a positive operating margin and plans to move the hospital and clinics to a single electronic health-record system.

Thine said the hospital finished last year with a positive operating margin and that year‑to‑date 2025 results are tracking roughly the same. \"If we have a couple of months like we plan to between now and the end of the year, we'll finish with a higher operating margin than we did last year,\" he said.

Why it matters: The hospital serves a largely rural population and relies heavily on Medicaid-linked funding streams; changes to federal programs or state allocations could reduce reimbursements and increase uncompensated care, which would pressure the hospital's ability to invest in people and equipment.

Thine described the hospital's cash position: 114 days cash on hand reported for August, with roughly 87 days available after set‑aside amounts tied to bond debt and building‑related reserves. He said the hospital has reserved about $1,300,000 to cover the planned electronic health-record (EHR) transition that will move outpatient clinics onto the hospital's system. \"We've reserved about $1,300,000 to work through that changeover,\" Thine said.

He cautioned that some of the apparent cash is being held for known liabilities or future obligations. \"If we were to spend it all today in one fell swoop, what we would be left with is about 11 days of cash on hand above that 60,\" he said, adding the hospital is operating conservatively.

On workforce and services, Thine said nurse retention has been \"north of 80%\" over the last 12 months and overall employee retention has improved compared with a low point a few years ago. Diagnostic imaging and observation‑unit use are growing; cardiology diagnostics increased about 40% in the second quarter compared with the end of last year as a cardiology team from Montrose has provided regular clinics and testing locally.

The hospital has invested in new ultrasound and stress‑test equipment and has been strengthening a clinical partnership with Mercy (Durango) so more oncology patients receive infusions locally. Thine said that, since the Mercy clinicians reviewed the local infusion center earlier this year, the number of patients referred for chemotherapy infusions in Cortez has increased, reducing patient travel to Durango.

Looking ahead, Thine said a CT scanner will need replacement in the next few years and staff are planning diagnostic‑imaging space staging so future equipment upgrades can be done with minimal disruption. He also raised policy risks: if Congress does not extend enhanced premium tax credits under the Affordable Care Act, premiums for individual coverage could rise and fewer people may have commercial insurance; separately, changes to Medicaid later in the decade could alter enrollment and reimbursement.

Thine emphasized continuity of care for uninsured patients: \"We're going to take care of anyone, whether they are insured, don't have insurance, whether it's Medicaid, Medicare. So people should still come and seek care. We have a financial assistance program for the hospital,\" he said.

Ending: Thine closed by stressing collaborative planning with district and foundation partners and invited questions from commissioners.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Montezuma County BOCC Workshop September 29, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Southwest Health Systems delivered a financial and services update to the Montezuma County Board of County Commissioners, reporting a positive operating margin, 114 days cash on hand (87 days after restricted reserves), a reserved $1.3 million for an electronic health-record transition, and growth in diagnostic services while warning of federal funding uncertainties.","taxTitle","Montezuma County, Colorado","taxId",27581,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6455298,"Social services warns HR1 and state cuts will double renewal workload; hotline vendor proposes 28% price hike",1374,2334000,3708000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5850621-84015b2cd7d57cbaf38fb96b579fe0fd&start=2334&end=3708","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5850621-84015b2cd7d57cbaf38fb96b579fe0fd/thumbnail_2334000.jpg","/articles/6455298/Montezuma-County/Colorado/Social-services-warns-HR1-and-state-cuts-will-double-renewal-workload-hotline-vendor-proposes-28-price-hike","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6455298-2c0e0e137a6f97b6dccfaa3072981ca6/orig.mp4?Expires=1770454671&Signature=oIh-7vWNuXvkIlUQ2JCy6IcfsyryZRCb0M4HSk43cDKQGlB8VRUadj~nHvXsUV0Whnh28qmjgVemdR6SEMzhpI30Xsp4YpUXyqpLvHtYLtoJSYuVgzDd~b1Kf3KOxXTskMhWpWfD8dg1RBA16438r9nxxtJNvv3su0fFdOOKUJzhx3n4~1~~bhCD~v8upQWtdZn0wrO5K5rMKf6eKT8vwZeeXrE-UGJ0JT-FbBJV0bjA4xv7szp7ql~a3pGc4wSb-KM6-k~5a4mOatuZ~i-sN96xpWeNWVAwymsBrUAzX7BCiJKvLVLzgT1u-LcsjZ8Wpevpdg2nCXLP753oanoBPg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Miss Hargraves of Montezuma County Social Services updated the Board of County Commissioners on program finances, state changes and a contentious contract increase for the statewide hotline that handles child‑welfare and adult‑protection referrals.

She said current social‑services financials are \"usual expenses, nothing different or out of the ordinary,\" but warned that pending federal and state changes will increase workload and reduce available funds. Hargraves explained that, because of changes she cited as \"HR 1,\" the county will need to perform Medicaid renewals every six months rather than annually, which she said \"means we're doubling our work.\" She noted approximately 15,000 people in Montezuma County use Medicaid and said the increased renewal frequency will create a substantial administrative burden.

Hargraves also described recent and prospective cuts from the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy & Financing (HCPF). She said HCPF indicated it would reduce allocations and that one administrative line in the county's budget (the county's HCPF allocation) is expected to be trimmed; Hargraves said staff will rework the budget to align with expected cuts.

Transportation was another area of change: Hargraves said HCPF has reduced reimbursement for certain non‑emergency medical transport items and is moving to a brokered call center model beginning July 1 next year. Under that model, members will call a central 1‑800 number and select a provider where preference exists; Hargraves said county staff are concerned the brokered model could disadvantage local providers if performance indicators do not favor them.

On hotline services, Hargraves reported receipt of the annual hotline contract proposal and said it was about 28% higher than the previous year. She said the vendor told directors the increase was necessary to retain staff and meet demand and that the county has limited practical alternatives: the statewide vendor covers after‑hours referrals 24/7, and while counties handle referrals in business hours, after‑hours coverage would be costly to staff locally. \"We don't have a choice unless we wanted to man it ourselves, and certainly, we couldn't pay for 24/7 phone access,\" Hargraves said. She noted the contract would take effect in January and that the vendor indicated it would not reopen the increase for negotiation.

Hargraves flagged a recent letter from the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS) and the Behavioral Health Administration (BHA) that she found frustrating; she said the letter criticized county budget choices and noted that TANF allocations have not increased since 1998. She urged county leaders to consider the impacts on \"balance of state\" counties that lack large tax bases and said cuts to TANF and other lines could force reductions in preventive services that keep children at home.

Ending: Hargraves said she will continue budget work, follow the broker RFP and transportation changes, and meet with local town boards about senior‑services funding requests later in October.

","At a county workshop Social Services (presented by Miss Hargraves) reported standard financials but warned that federal/state changes (described as HR1 and HCPF allocations) will increase work and pressure budgets, and that the statewide hotline vendor proposed a contract about 28% higher than last year.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6455289,"E911 board approves $85,000 reinstatement to Cortez dispatch; Laurie Johnson says phone system site‑B will be tested Oct. 16",805,7825000,8630000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5850621-84015b2cd7d57cbaf38fb96b579fe0fd&start=7825&end=8630","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5850621-84015b2cd7d57cbaf38fb96b579fe0fd/thumbnail_7825000.jpg","/articles/6455289/Montezuma-County/Colorado/E911-board-approves-85000-reinstatement-to-Cortez-dispatch-Laurie-Johnson-says-phone-system-siteB-will-be-tested-Oct-16","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6455289-f8306320f41d6ca0107862e69f907c74/orig.mp4?Expires=1770454671&Signature=bm6vqjOH0uOHSOopbQMukJN4Ub7GOQemL~-LCLygj3K3gXIosdVAAefMPGmyfIAJQGQkcEMnWkRUsuEiF6ojZofWWyuMBl8cQU15lsLAgQU20En32xyGJpUdah4bboc~Nhz4tXDngSvoKHOJDukALt4FJAChNTRu11miZCZYjtyayjzDs5k~8yd5cdCBjr4xA3C4Zr2w2RtIjBOn9Dt~WJKEjavvplh0cKjSzVUAoWA7ObmAMTVwky2DRhN2NofLI9PnpCuFfeWYIyqQGgwZkZTLKxTcsvTGq5saRdf965ejJhw4dhUkzMoaOI4fTc4I7wIzLiVaBiakfwZb14Q5mQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the Montezuma County E911 board meeting Laurie Johnson provided equipment and budget updates and the board voted to reinstate an $85,000 annual payout to the Cortez dispatch center from E911 authority funds.

Johnson said the long‑troubled site‑B phone system had progressed to the testing phase and the vendor planned to test on October 16; if testing is successful the vendor will request the remaining contract payment of $155,547.42. \"They let me know this week that they're ready to test it. They think they've got all of the bugs worked out, and we'll be testing it on October 16,\" she said.

Sheriff Don Wilson reported his agency's new dispatch center console and glassed‑in layout are installed and that the upgraded radio system has improved safety for dispatchers.

The board reviewed budget projections and a proposal from a county communications advisory group to return $85,000 from the E911 fund to help offset user‑agency charges for dispatching services. The administrator noted the county had last made a similar payment in 2020 and that the fund balance, after maintaining a $500,000 reserve, would remain sufficient under current projections until approximately 2029. The board debated whether the payment should be recurring; one member recommended leaving it as a discretionary annual decision rather than automatic.

A formal motion to reinstate the $85,000 payout for fiscal year 2026 passed after a second. Members present responded \"Aye\" and the chair declared the motion approved.

Ending: Johnson said the phone‑system finalization and any remaining invoices will come through the E911 budget process; the board will continue planning radio and dispatch infrastructure replacements.

","At an E911 board meeting Laurie Johnson reported the site‑B phone system should be ready for testing Oct. 16 and a remaining contract payment of $155,547.42 will be requested; the board voted to reinstate an $85,000 payout to the Cortez dispatch center to help offset user agency costs in the 2026 budget.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6455294,"County delays CPW non‑motorized grant for Mancos–Cortez trail, will await GOCO award",557,3754000,4311000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5850621-84015b2cd7d57cbaf38fb96b579fe0fd&start=3754&end=4311","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5850621-84015b2cd7d57cbaf38fb96b579fe0fd/thumbnail_3754000.jpg","/articles/6455294/Montezuma-County/Colorado/County-delays-CPW-nonmotorized-grant-for-MancosCortez-trail-will-await-GOCO-award","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6455294-8f65308cae4e6c2d81c24cff44a68df2/orig.mp4?Expires=1770454671&Signature=TDoNUWU8Pc5q3cCqrtD9DBlDRr1eZvNPu5eSYsCiLz8AW06dzWEhXZMe7vH99NnfVxiNVGnuecY5dcQ0L82gy0p4Jj7pjFn7BloGYs-IMoF~Q6t7LXss5euJ9Y~WlWTiSO7yu936poQkuTf4lade4g3h6E5LBHMcsAk3NYV7QjGGCsTNl6yyEad2kYrS9-w0NOLstvKG~o~qUNPCn6jGYKEhbcuor0jn1vcjp7N-G5j30rqwJoxikVi-6aF-E7~4U34d4UGYV9EQj037-3TkAdcORVaIktLU1L5paSwTPq5Tnd6l8FtKcNCcWSaesu-YqTkQLlW7-edYzUaGvqw-1g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","James Dietrich briefed the Board of County Commissioners on funding progress and timing risks for the long‑planned Mancos–Cortez multi‑use trail and recommended the county not submit the Colorado Parks & Wildlife (CPW) non‑motorized grant due October 1.

Dietrich said the project has a FLAP (Federal Lands Access Program) allocation of $10.8 million for 2028 construction on the Mancos side and that the local match requirement is $3.5 million. The county has about $1.7 million committed, leaving roughly a $1.8 million gap caused in part by the loss of previous MMOF/MMLF funding. To fill that gap the county applied for a $1.5 million GOCO grant and expects a decision in December.

\"The grant is due October 1. I have the grant all prepared. It's ready to be turned in. The problem is that we're required to do a presentation in Denver in January. And prior to that presentation, we're supposed to have all of our federal clearances and environmental work done,\" Dietrich said, adding that the agency that performs federal clearances does not want to complete those documents too early because clearances can expire and then have to be redone prior to construction. He recommended delaying the CPW application until the clearances can be completed closer to construction.

Dietrich proposed that if the county receives the GOCO award in December it could cover a $250,000 placeholder commitment to the design/construction partner (CFLHD as referred to in the presentation) with an MOU, and then reapply to CPW in 2027 to recoup that placeholder if the CPW award is later granted. If GOCO funding is not awarded, Dietrich said the project would likely be infeasible as currently planned and the county should consider stopping or scaling back construction plans.

Dietrich reviewed segment geography and priorities (segments A–D, with C and D on the Mancos side and A on the Cortez side) and said completing an initial smaller Cortez segment could still catalyze broader progress. He noted the project has been under development for decades and called it a legacy project; construction on Mancos segments is scheduled for 2028 assuming funding and clearances proceed.

Decision/direction: Dietrich asked commissioners to remove the CPW application from the consent agenda and not submit it now; staff indicated that recommendation will appear on the consent agenda for the next business meeting for formal action.

Ending: Dietrich said the county will reconvene after the GOCO decision and consider a placeholder commitment if the award is received.

","Project lead James Dietrich told commissioners the county should not submit a Colorado Parks & Wildlife (CPW) non‑motorized grant now because federal environmental clearances required for the CPW grant must be recent at presentation time; the county will await a GOCO decision in December and consider committing $250,000 as a placeholder if GOCO is ","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Southwest Health Systems reports stronger operating margin, readies electronic records change; flags federal funding risk

Social services warns HR1 and state cuts will double renewal workload; hotline vendor proposes 28% price hike

E911 board approves $85,000 reinstatement to Cortez dispatch; Laurie Johnson says phone system site‑B will be tested Oct. 16

County delays CPW non‑motorized grant for Mancos–Cortez trail, will await GOCO award