LHD elects officers, appoints committee members
The Lavaca Hospital District Board of Directors met Monday evening and held its annual election of officers for 2025-26.
Board President James Fenner and secretary Gene Schott will continue their positions on the board, while Carl Hobbs will serve as vice-president.
In addition to the officers elected, members of the var ious committees were appointed, who include:
• Budget, Finance and Planning – Carl Hobbs and Doug Kubicek
• Building and Grounds – Carl Hobbs and Gene Schott.
• Strategic Planning – Ronnie Juenke and Gene Schott.
• T Q M – Ronnie Juenke and Doug Kubicek
• Medical Staff credentials – Rosanne Gallia and Forrest Kroschel.
• Hospital Auxiliary – Rosanne Gallia and Forrest Kroschel.
Compliance – All board members.
Legislation Update
The board heard a legislation update, via a Zoom hook-up, from Texas Hospital Association president and CEO John Hawkins.
Hawkins presented a power point display and talked about the legislative session in Austin as well as reporting on issues coming from the federal government in Washington D.C.
He primarily spoke about the Medicaid program and its impact it has on hospitals.
Hawkins also talked about the issues regarding the reconciliation bill occurring presently in Washington.
“The issues of the reconciliation bill are going to potentially impact hospital operations and the Medicare program,” Hawkins said. “The Medicare policy we’re worried about would limit the hospital’s ability to charge facility fees in outpatient settings.”
Hawkins said they are keeping their eye on several rural hospitals payment enhancements in Medicare.
“A lot of hospitals have challenges with Medicare Advantage in that it impacts you all potentially from a n administrative standpoint and the use of prioritization,” Hawkins said. “Those Medicare Advantage dates come out of your cost report, if you’re a base hospital. So it kind of undermines your ability to get those payments.”
Medical Staff Applications
The board approved medical staff applications submitted by LMC chief of staff Dr. Morgan Heck.
The physicians approved include Kody Selzer, M.D. for advancement from provisional active staff ; Christian Burrell, M.D. (neurology/tele-medicine) for advancement from provisional consulting staff; Nine physician applications for provisional consulting staff that included six in diagnostic radiology, two in neurology/tele-medicine and one in psychiatry/tele-medicine; and James (Tyler) Conrad (scrub tech-ophthalmology) and Taylor Schindler (family nurse practitioner) for allied health personnel.
Administration/ Financial Report
Lavaca Medical Center administrator Steve Bowen, presented the administration and financial report for April.
Bowen updated the board on the GI physicians at the hospital.
He said Dr. Gonzales will be leaving LMC in June to attend school to become board eligible.
Bowen said currently the hospital has Dr. Awad and he has recruited one GI physician, who is starting at the hospital this week and another that will start practice at LMC in June.
Regarding the Physical Therapy/Wellness project, Bowen reported they have four contractors that will be interviewing at 3 p.m. special-called meeting on June 9. He said they will bring their bids that can be analyzed.
Bowen said the Health Fair held on May 14 was well attended and they had over 50 booths.
He presented the Press Gurney survey on the clinic for the past two months, with each month scoring in the 90’s.
Bowen reminded the board members the Texas Hospital Association (THA) meetings will begin on Wednesday, June 11 and run through noon on Saturday, June 14.
In the financial report, Bowen said the average daily census in the hospital in April was 5.3 patients with an average length of stay of 4.4 days. He said they had 33 admissions in April.
Bowen said compared to last year at this time, surgeries were up 55% and ER visits were up 6%.
The hospital’s gross district revenue was up 12%, while the total other revenue was up 27% and the total district revenue was up 14% with all involving year-to-date figures.
Regarding the clinic, Bowen said visits are up almost 500 more year-to-date compared to last year.
In other action taken by the board:
• Approved a resolution appointing Lavaca County tax assessor/collector, Deborah A. Sevcik, to perform LHD’s effective tax rate and rollback rate.
• Approved the public investment policy review.
Board President James Fenner presided over the meeting with board members, Carl Hobbs, Forrest Kroschel, Doug Kubicek, Gene Schott and Ronnie Juenke attending.