10/12/1983CLEARWATER HEALTH FACILITIES AUTHORITY
October 12, 1983
The City of Clearwater Health Facilities Authority met in regular
session in the Conference Room, City Hall on October 12, 1983.
The following members were present:
C. J. Wollett
George House
Ruth Condon
Clinton Holden
Absent:
Frank George
Also present were:
John Gray
Thomas Bustin
Lucille Williams
Chairman
Vice- Chairman
Administrator, Morton Plant Hospital
City Attorney
City Clerk
The meeting was called to order at 4:35 p.m. by Chairman C. J.
Wollett. He presented the minutes of the April 13, 1983, meeting which
had been mailed to the members of the Authority. Upon hearing no
corrections or additions, he declared the minutes approved.
John Gray gave the members an update on the hospital's projects.
He reported the Adler Building had been constructed, mostly by donations,
and dedicated. At the present time, Jeffords Street is torn up and work
is progressing on the Witt Addition, which will provide 26 additional rooms
for patients, as well as meeting rooms and the ambulatory out - patient
emergency building. The cost of the two new buildings is approximately
$4,000,000 which will be paid from depreciation funds. The Depreciation
Fund receives a monthly check for depreciation on all equipment and
buildings.
Within the forseeable future the hospital plans a 1,000 car parking
garage to cost approximately $5,000,000. It will be constructed at the
SE corner of Pinellas and Bay Streets. The first and second floors of
the parking garage would be used for storage of equipment, generators,
etc. A second garage is also on the planning board and the first floor
will be used for a laundry.
The hospital has applied for a Certificate of Need and been approved
for a 65 bed rehabilitation hospital which is estimated to cost
$12,000,000. A Certificate of Need for a psychiatric hospital with 112
beds has been verbally approved for 22 beds, which would bring their
current number of psychiactric beds up to 67. It has not been determined
yet whether it is practical and feasible to build a 67 bed psychiatric
hospital. They will need funds for these two projects.
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.He reported, there is a Non-Profit Hospital Venture group composed
of Pinellas County Hospitals, who are looking into pooling of funds to
purchase equipment. The Pinellas County Commission has approved the
concept, but the Pinellas County Health Facilities Authority's approval
is also needed. The pooled funds would total approximately $30,000,000.
Recently Morton Plant hospital purchased one and one - quarter million
dollars worth of equipment, which was privately financed, at 9 %. The
current indebtedness of the hospital is approximately $12,000,000 with
interest rates from 8 to 12i %. They are. attempting to refinance at a
lower rate of interest. Equipment is usually financed for five years,
after whi.ch time it is either worn out or obsolete.
Discussion ensued on allocation of beds based on population. He
discussed the Hospital Corporation of America, which manages 425 for profit
hospitals and the Sun Alliance Group, to which Norton Plant belongs, and
which is composed of approximately 200 hospitals. The for - profit hospitals
claim they are more efficient and do have some advantages over non - profit
hospitals. Hospitals operating as groups have a monetary advantage when
making bulk purchases.
The Chairman questioned whether the Clearwater Health Facilities
Authority would be phased -out because of the County Authority. In response
Mr. Gray stated that several Cities in Pinellas County have their own
health facility authorities and other hospitals wanting to build a branch
in Cleawater, would have to come to the Clearwater Health Facilities
Authority for approval.
Morton Plant will come to the CHFA for small equipment purchases if
a local bank finances a tax -free bond issue at a reasonable rate. He
reported that recently Morton Plant purchased a new health care facility
at the corner of Greenwood and Lakeview. This facility sends nurses out
to the homes. The new Medicare Rules to reduce hospital costs played a
part in the purchase of this health care service. It will reduce costs
to the extent that a nurse will see a patient instead of a doctor when
the doctor's services are not required. The new medicare rules provide
for X number of dollars for certain types of procedures. The old ruling
provided X number of dollars for each case, regardless of procedures.
The new rules will be phased in over a three year period. He also noted
there is much more out - patient surgery being practiced.
Mr. Gray reported that any revenue that exceeded expenses was used
for the purchase of new equipment.
The Chairman noted that he and Ruth Condon had been reappointed to
serve on the Authority, by the City Commission. He also stated he would
instruct William Cantlin, Chief Accountant for the City, to file a "No
Activity Report" to comply with Florida Statute requirements.
By consensus, the Authority agreed to meet on April 18, 1984, at
4:30 p.m.
Meeting adjourned at 5:16 p.m.
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