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Jackson County medical care facility reports March shortfall; board to consider budget amendment
Summary
The county—s medical care facility reported March revenue below budget and expenses above budget, leaving a negative net position; the Human Services Committee received the report and expects a budget amendment at the full board meeting next week.
The Jackson County Human Services Committee received a report Thursday that the county medical care facility finished March with revenue of $2,561,196, about $60,765 below budget, and expenses running above budget, leaving a year-to-date negative net position.
Committee members were told the facility recorded a net position variance of negative $230,730 for the month and a March net position of negative $150,802. Year-to-date revenue is behind budget by $80,720 and expenses are over budget by $64,984. Census for March averaged 181.1 residents against a budgeted 184; admissions for the month were 49 and discharges 45.
The financial overview matters because the facility—s budget is large relative to the variances: the director said the facility budget totals roughly $30 million, and officials are watching bed-day trends to make realistic budget projections. Accounts receivable days were reported at 56 days (goal: 54), and cash on hand was estimated at 23.5 days; those figures do not include approximately $3.6 million earmarked for a Medicaid repayment or roughly $4.5 million in funds held as maintenance-of-effort (MOE). The director said the county projects using about $168,000 of MOE this year.
Staff said the primary driver on the revenue side was lower-than-budgeted census; expense overages were partly linked to higher-acuity admissions requiring more supplies and specialized care (examples cited included increased use of catheters and oxygen). The director said department heads are reviewing expense lines monthly and that the facility recouped some margin earlier in the year before the March decline.
The committee was told staff will present a budget amendment to the full board at next Monday—s meeting to align bed-day assumptions and other line items with observed trends. The committee voted to receive the report.
Details in the report that will be part of the amendment include the census shortfall (March: 181.1 actual vs. 184 budgeted; year-to-date lag 4.4 bed days), monthly admissions/discharges totals (March: 49 admissions, 45 discharges; year-to-date: 187 admissions, 185 discharges), and the AR/cash metrics noted above.
The committee did not take action on a budget amendment at the meeting; staff will return to the full board with a proposed amendment for approval next week.
