Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Hospital Finances topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Carrus operator reports improved collections, low inpatient census as CAH application moves to federal review
Summary
At the Oct. 7 Bristow Hospital Authority meeting Carrus Lakeside Health reported modestly improved collections but very low inpatient numbers and said the hospital’s Critical Access Hospital (CAH) application has passed state review and is now under federal review; the operator insisted it would not withdraw from the project.
At the Oct. 7 meeting of the Bristow Hospital Authority, Jon Rains of Carrus Lakeside Health, L.L.C. told trustees the hospital’s August financials showed modestly higher collections while inpatient volume remained very low and the emergency department now serves more than 50% Medicare or non‑funding patients. "We have collected about half of the old billing," Rains said, and he added the lab recently replaced a freezer.
Rains described the billing process: Carrus bills insurers first and sends statements to self‑pay patients after insurance avenues are exhausted, a sequence that can take as long as several months for out‑of‑network claims. He said the CAH application has "gone through the state and is now in Washington," and he expressed confidence the federal review will grant Critical Access Hospital status. Asked whether Carrus would stay if federal funding or designations changed, Rains said the operator is committed: "We wouldn't be here if we wanted to bail out ... we are not going to pull out now." He also suggested litigation against the state as one option if the application is mishandled.
Why it matters: CAH designation brings payment and operational changes that can materially affect the hospital's finances and its ability to serve Medicare patients; trustees pressed for clarity on collections and timelines as the authority continues to underwrite operations and capital work. The presentation included patient census trends, a discussion of payer mix, and a note that replacing lab equipment had added to near‑term expenses.
Provenance: topicintro SEG 001 ("Presentation by Jon Rains of Carrus Lakeside Health, L.L.C., regarding operation of the hospital ... including financial reports to date, patient census information, the status of the hospital license and Medicare permit"), topfinish SEG 002 (Rains discussion of CAH and alternatives).
