Your Hometown News Source
Your Hometown News Source
DAYTON–Columbia County Health System reported a net loss of $876,000 for October at the December 4 Board of Director's meeting with a year-to-date income of $754,000. The board also reviewed and approved a grant proposal for the Columbia Family Clinic expansion.
The financial report for October reflected the loss, mainly attributed to the net patient revenues being down $710,000 below budget and bad debt being $515,000 higher than budgeted. Deductions and allowances were also $288,000 higher than expected which contributes to expenses for the year being over by $1.74 million for the year-to-date.
The main contributors to being over budget are salaries, benefits, professional fees, and interest on a line of credit and accounts payable, according to CEO Shane McGuire.
"We are meeting with our department leaders this week to discuss the 2025 budget with a focus on strategies to maintain expense budget integrity" despite year-to-date income reported at $754,000, McGuire told the Board.
The Board approved the expansion for the Columbia Family Clinic for behavioral health and to improve patient treatment and flow. The project will be paid in full by grant money of $1.2 million from the Department of Commerce for the addition and $200,000 from the Health Care Authority to furnish it.
Patient behavioral health screenings reveal that care is needed for depression, anxiety, attention deficit disorder and substance use. The improvements will better serve patients while increasing revenue with little cost to the hospital district.
