HomeMy WebLinkAboutCorrespondence - BOCCDecember 7, 2020
Grant County Commissioners
Grant County Finance Committee
PO Box 37
Ephrata, WA 98823
Dear Grant County Commissioners and Members of the Finance Committee:
Grant County Public hospital District 42
Anthem Gonzalez., Commissioner
Sherri Kooy. Commissioner
Robert Poindexter. Commissioner
Michele Talley. Commis ioner
Randy Zolman. Commissioner
Glenda Bishop. CEO
As we move into the last days of 2020, looking back on all that has transpired I can honestly say that I
am more grateful than ever before to be part of this community and Grant County. From the day we
learned that the first patient to test positive in the U.S. was in Washington state, to the "arrival" of
COVID in our community and Grant County, the response of our County Health Department and local
health partners has been nothing short of exceptional. We have been supported and cared for in
every possible way. I want to repeat for you what I have said to members of our community: our
staff at Quincy Valley Medical Center have demonstrated their commitment to not only the
organization but to the entire Hospital District which we serve and I am so very proud of the work we
have done together to help keep our patients and communities safe.
Even in the midst of unprecedented challenges for all healthcare systems, our Finance Committee and
Commissioners have worked tirelessly to maintain the positive direction that we were experiencing in
our financial position. As you can imagine, the uncertainty of revenue was a real concern during the
State's "stay at home" orders. In April we qualified for assistance through the SBA Paycheck
Protection Program and we are optimistic that we will qualify for forgiveness of that loan. We also
received assistance from HHS through the CARES Act funding. Like all other healthcare systems, we
received these funds without applying for them, but the funds will be strictly scrutinized and can only
be used for very specific COVID-related expenses. We hope to keep some of those funds when the
final guidelines are released. Realistically, though, we anticipate that HHS will take back most of those
CARES Act dollars in 2021.
As you can see by information provided to you from the Treasurer's Office, we have made good
progress in reducing our debt to the County. It was eighteen months ago that our limit was reduced
to $4.5 million dollars, and we have continued to move the needle in the right direction. I agree that
it is the right time to decrease the debt limit and I am committed to continuing the hard work to do
so. I respectfully ask that you consider an incremental rather than $1 million dollar reduction,_
908 TENTH AVENUE SW QUINCY, WASHINGTON 98848 TELEPHONE (509) 787-3531 FAX (509) 787-2016 - -
QvmcCmguincvhospital.orI www.quincyhospital.org
for example, reducing the limit to $4 million dollars effective January 1, 2021, and another reduction
on January 1, 2022, down to $3.5 million dollars.
We are, once again, facing a challenging set of guidelines which went into effect on December 3, 2020
(Governor Inslee's most recent Proclamation). As a result, we do not fully know the impact on patient
volumes and subsequent revenue for the coming months. In fact, we fully anticipate that the next
two to three months could be some of the most challenging months faced by healthcare systems thus
far. We continue to limit expenses in every area possible, while recognizing that we may also see a
reduction in revenue as a result of people staying home, delaying care, and potentially significant
amounts of charity care due to services being provided to those who cannot afford to pay. We do not
have good clarity about what will happen during the next three months. No one does.
One additional concern that all Critical Access Hospitals are facing is that CARES Act funding will be
reported on our Cost Reports, and that could make our "year end" cost report (settlement) in 2021
more volatile. Again, until the final guidance is released for how the CARES Act money is to be
recorded (and possibly returned), we are doing our best to be proactive and prepared.
Thank you for your consideration of these thoughts. I will be available to answer any questions you
might have during your meeting on Monday, December Stn
Sincerely,
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Glenda Bishop �oP
CEO
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908 TENTH AVENUE SW QUINCY, WASHINGTON 98848 TELEPHONE (509) 787-3531 FAX (509) 787-2016
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