While the quality of kidney dialysis care at Schneider Regional Medical Center is good, tightening budgets and increasing demand for dialysis combine to strain resources at the hospital, acting Chief Executive Officer Angela Rennalls-Atkinson said during Senate budget hearings Thursday.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services have confirmed the unit "has sustained regulatory compliance and a culture of continuous improvement," Rennalls-Atkinson said. But at the same time, she said the number of individuals requiring end-stage renal disease treatment continues to increase each year.
"Between 2010 and 2011 the unit’s census increased by 17.6 percent to 94 patients; and from 2011 to 2012 the census has increased by an additional 6.9 percent to 101 patients," she said. Currently, the 16-bed unit is at capacity, she told senators.
Meanwhile, the government’s recommended Fiscal Year 2013 General Fund budget appropriation of $21.3 million represents a reduction of $8.9 million – or 29.5 percent – from the 2010 appropriation of $30.2 million, she said. It is a smaller, 5.3 percent reduction of $1.2 million from the 2012 appropriation.
The cut in funding "makes it impossible to render the full scope of services expected by the community and visitors," said Rennalls-Atkinson, urging senators to try to find a way to provide more funding.
The hospital anticipates another $62.6 million from its own fees for services and from the Health Revolving Fund, for a total operating budget of $83.9 million.
Of that total, $40.2 million is allocated for wages and salaries; $10.3 million for associated benefits; $16.2 million for supplies; $12 million for other services and charges; and $5.3 million for utilities.
In addition to the costs itemized in its 2013 budget, Rennalls-Atkinson said Schneider hospital needs funds for several immediate needs, which include:
– $2.1 million for information technology infrastructure stabilization and expansion;
– $2 million to sustain the community cancer center program;
-$500,000 to support operations at the Myrah Keating Smith Community Health;
– $1.5 million for the hemodialysis program;
– and full funding for previous and recently negotiated salary increases.
No votes were taken at the information gathering hearing of the Finance Committee.
