Dahl Memorial Clinic board adopts multiple policy updates, approves contracts and directs letter of intent to Skagway Municipality

Dahl Memorial Clinic board members on April 24 approved a slate of policy updates and staff contracts, voted to send a letter of intent to the Skagway borough manager and directed staff to explore a different method for setting the clinic’s fee schedule.

The board, acting as the clinic’s governing body, approved amendments to the federal cash-management and grant drawdowns policy; adopted changes to billing and collections (including a late amendment that removed a named collection firm from the policy); confirmed several internal policies on employee charges and donor recognition; and approved three behavioral-health contracts and a residential lease. The board also voted to direct Executive Director Albert Wall to present a letter of intent to the borough manager so the matter can be placed on the assembly agenda.

Those steps move several administrative items forward as the clinic continues work on separating from municipal oversight and preparing a memorandum of agreement and lease with the borough.

Board action and why it matters

The actions approved on April 24 streamline the clinic’s grant-management and billing practices and authorize staff hires and a facility lease the clinic says it needs for operations. The board’s direction to submit a letter of intent to the Skagway borough manager initiates an item the borough assembly must consider before the clinic’s governance language in the municipal code can be changed.

Among the votes: - Federal cash-management and grant drawdown policy (8a1): approved by roll call (9 yes, 0 no). The motion was made by Director Simmons and carried without further amendment. - Billing and collections policy (8a2): the board approved an amended billing-and-collections policy. During debate members moved and passed an amendment to replace…