Union Hospital District Board of Trustees Finance Committee members were given a look at where the hospital district sits financially as the end of 2009 approaches at their meeting Dec. 17.

Chief Finance Officer Jim Barmes was on hand to present the financial statistics for the month ending Nov. 30. Those numbers were down from what the district originally budgeted for the month, but Barmes reminded committee members the financial viability of the district is dependent on community use and payor mix.

“When the hospital changes from a high reimbursement financial class like commercial insurance or BC/BS to a low reimbursement class like self-pay or Medicaid, the hospital loses additional reimbursement for the same medical service,” Barmes said. “With the reduction in reimbursement it makes it difficult for the hospital financially.”

Community utilization is based on the overall volume of patients who use and support the hospital district and live in Union vs. patients who support hospitals and jobs in Spartanburg.

Highlights from the November numbers included a 12 percent difference — from the 190 the district budgeted for to the actual 167 — in acute care discharges and 8 percent differences in the number of total ambulance runs. The district expected 428 ambulance runs but only had 392. Looking at last year’s numbers for the same month, however, the district was not too far off with only minor differences in each volume category.

There were two categories the budget hit on the money, though. The district expected 11 newborn baby deliveries in the month of November and 11 were born and the long-term average daily census was at 108.6 which is what was expected.

Barmes said the economic downturn has played a role in the hospital district’s budget.

“Due to the difficult economic situation, our bad debt expense has the hospital below budget,” he said.

That doesn’t mean, however, the district still isn’t providing the same great care and services it always has. Barmes noted in his presentation to the committee the hospital district provides many services, including MRI, a new CT scanner and other radiology services; laboratory services; and inpatient and outpatient surgeries.

The district is available to the Union County community nights and weekends if necessary “to provide the excellent care the community has come to expect.”

In other business, the committee:

n Heard a review of the payment plans and option programs available to assist patients in payment of their healthcare bills by Chris Johnson with Carolinas HealthCare System Patient Financial Services. Wallace Thomson Hospital Director of Patient Financial Services Sharon Morris said those plans are based on patient needs and aid initiation should begin with the hospital’s Patient Financial Services Financial Assistance program.

“The hospital has worked very diligently with patients on payment plans for the last year,” Barmes reported. “We are investigating greater discounts and more options to offer our patients.”

• Heard a presentation from Keith McNeice with Carolinas HealthCare System on the wide range of regulations and needs to comply with the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

• Heard an educational presentation from Steve Burr with Carolinas Physicians Network outlining processes for the Centralized Business Office for the Carolinas Health Associates clinics.