HomeMy WebLinkAboutBHSMinutes_2024_06_241
Brookings Health System
Board of Trustees
Minutes of Meeting
June 24, 2024
The Brookings Health System Board of Trustees held a meeting on June 24, 2024, at the Brookings
Hospital in the Board Room with the following members present: Sheila Anderson, Lynn Darnall, David
Meyer, Dick Peterson, Tracy Greene, Don Greiner, Jim Morgan; Ex-officio: Brianna Doran, Andrew
Rasmussen, Ryan Krogman
Absent: Mary Anne Krogh and Andrew Ellsworth
Management Present: Jason Merkley, CEO; Tammy Hillestad, CNO; Melissa Wagner, CFO and Sheri
Wiig, recorder
President Anderson called the meeting to order at 5:45 p.m.
AGENDA
A motion was made by Peterson, seconded by Greene to approve the agenda. All present voted in favor;
motion carried.
CONSENT AGENDA
A motion was made by Meyer, seconded by Morgan to approve the following consent agenda items: April
29, 2024 Board of Trustees meeting minutes, April 29, 2024 Finance Committee meeting minutes, June
19, 2024 Medical Executive Committee meeting minutes, April and May 2024 financials, adjustments,
and payables; total payables for April were $2,274,054.70 and $3,011,627.86 for May. All present voted
in favor; motion carried.
INFORMATIONAL ITEMS
Articles of interest included: “This hospital CEO is done playing nice with Medicare Advantage”,
Becker’s Hospital Review; and “The cost of unnecessary hospital day in 8 numbers”, Becker’s Hospital
Review.
REPORTS
Executive Reports
CEO Report
Merkley noted that staff were recognized and celebrated during the National 2024 Hospital & Nursing
Home Week in May; each year, this celebration recognizes the dedicated healthcare personnel who
provide quality care every day. The Sleep Study lab recently acquired new technology/equipment to
improve the patient experience during overnight studies. Merkley also reminded members the 15th annual
Aiming to Inspire Health fundraiser will be held on Thursday, August 8th. The raffle grand prize is a 2025
Polaris Ranger 1000 premium UTV.
CFO Report
Wagner provided an update on a class action settlement recovery company, Managed Care Advisory
Group (MCAG), endorsed by SDAHO. The company works to find any class action settlements due to
Brookings Health System and many other organizations. So far, a few third-party settlement payments
have been received.
2
CNO Report
Hillestad noted the new nurse recognition program, “The DAISY Award” kicked off in May during
Nurses Week. So far, there have been eight (8) nominations. In the Obstetrics Unit, implementation of
eNICU services is nearly complete which will allow providers at Avera McKennan to visually assess
newborns.
INVITED GUEST
Guest speaker, Tim Rave, President and CEO of the South Dakota Association of Healthcare
Organizations (SDAHO) provided updates on several industry topics. Medicaid Expansion recap thus far
within South Dakota, as we approach a year’s worth of experience, is that utilization, enrollment, and
costs are projected very close to what SDAHO originally estimated and falling short of the estimates from
the State of SD. Overall implementation has gone very well, and enrollment numbers continue to rise over
time getting closer to SDAHO’s estimate of approximately 30,000 enrollees. Other topics discussed
included concerns for revenue based on projected tax revenue and potential grocery tax repeal.
Additionally, Rave expressed lots of concern for long term care facilities given the recent CMS staffing
mandate legislation. Rave also mentioned the 2024 Primary Election results more than likely were not
positive for healthcare within the State of SD.
Rave was thanked for his very informative discussion and exited the meeting at 6:32 p.m.
Board Committee Reports
Administrative Committee Meeting
Committee member Meyer provided a report; the Administrative Committee met on June 18th. Topics of
discussion included The Neighborhoods at Brookview SD Department of Health survey, Yorkshire
Medical Building Floor and Site Plan, Physician recruitment/retention, FIT – Wellness/Acceleration,
Meditech Expanse/Avera/Workday, and Board Recruitment.
Finance Committee
Committee Chair Greiner provided a report; the Finance Committee met on June 18th. The committee
reviewed and approved payables, adjustments, and financials for April and May. Total salaries and wages
were $3,019,444 for April and $3,139,902 for May. Other topics of discussion included the 2023
Medicare cost report and payor mix.
Quality Committee
Committee member Meyer provided a report; the Quality Committee met on June 18th. Jeremy
Klinkhammer, Administrator of The Neighborhoods at Brookview, provided a summary of the SD
Department of Health survey that took place in May. Other topics of discussion included updates on
CMS’s Star rating program for the nursing home and hospital and patient contracted services.
NEW BUSINESS
Medical Staff Credentialing
A motion was made by Peterson, seconded by Morgan to approve all June 2024 credentialing as
recommended by the Medical Executive Committee. All present voted in favor; motion carried.
Upon motion by Greiner, second by Greene, the meeting adjourned at 6:45 p.m. Motion carried
unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
_____________________________________
David Meyer