MEEKER | The Eastern Rio Blanco Health Service District Board and Pioneers Medical Center met last week at their new meeting location at 315 6th St., where the larger space accommodated additional attendees, including two newly seated board members.
The board had operated as a five-member body since 2021 but returned to a seven-member structure following recent elections. All members were present as the meeting opened with approval of the agenda.
During public comment, community member Bobby Gutierrez addressed the board, saying he was there “to extend an olive branch” and congratulating the two new members on their election. He said he was encouraged to see the board return to seven members and planned to continue attending monthly meetings.
Following the oaths of office for new members Danette Coulter and Dr. Albert Krueger, the board voted to maintain its existing leadership structure. Mark Schryver remains board president, Regas Halandras remains vice president, and Sherri Halandras continues as secretary/treasurer.
The board then reviewed the annual audit presented by Kami Matzek of DZA in Spokane, Washington. Matzek reported no changes in accounting policies and no disagreements with management.
She said estimates remain a key component of financial reporting and require ongoing review.
“We have no difficulty performing the audit or disagreement with management,” Matzek said, noting that items such as third-party settlements and self-insurance liabilities can vary from actual results.
Discussion also focused on how financial performance is measured, particularly differences between gross and net patient revenue in calculating bad debt and charity care.
Interim CEO Steve Hannah questioned the methodology, asking why different revenue bases are used for similar metrics. Senior finance analyst Janae Stanworth said benchmarking practices vary depending on available comparisons. Matzek added that both approaches can be useful depending on the analysis.
Later in the meeting, the board reviewed multiple provider agreements involving physicians and advanced practice practitioners.
Hannah said contracts are structured using fair market value analysis and reviewed by legal counsel before board approval.
“The board is ultimately responsible for provider contracts,” Hannah said, noting that authority is delegated through board policy.
Compliance officer Philip Stubblefield said safeguards are built into contract structures to ensure compliance with Stark Law exceptions.
Brooks and Brooks Law Firm and Ovation Healthcare representative Jessie Neitzer were also referenced in contract review discussions. Neitzer said fair market value analysis is essential to reducing regulatory risk.
Chief Nursing Officer Janelle Borchard provided updates on staffing, emergency department operations, and workflow improvements. She reported significant reductions in emergency department wait times.
“Our door-to-triage time has been less than five minutes,” Borchard said, adding that many patients are now roomed within minutes of arrival.
She said patients are now immediately placed in treatment rooms when available, with registration completed inside care areas to reduce delays.
“If you are experiencing a delay, bring it,” Borchard said. “We can’t improve what we don’t see.”
Borchard also reported progress in staffing stability, including transitions from traveling staff to permanent hires and upcoming international nurse arrivals scheduled for June 15.
She said housing remains a key recruitment challenge, with the hospital continuing to use company housing to support incoming staff.
“We’re trying to be thoughtful around process and utilization,” she said.
Board members also discussed broader regional housing shortages and workforce retention concerns.
Hannah also updated the board on long-term capital planning efforts, including outside consulting work focused on optimizing current facilities before future expansion.
“We need to optimize what we currently have,” Hannah said, noting that facility planning decisions may take several years to implement.
Consultant Thomas Yates was referenced as leading strategic planning discussions focused on service line sustainability and capital efficiency.
Board members raised concerns about debt levels and ensuring future expansion is financially justified.
Near the end of the meeting, Stubblefield delivered a compliance presentation focused on Stark Law, anti-kickback statutes, and broader federal healthcare regulations.
He explained that Stark Law prohibits physician referrals tied to financial relationships unless specific exceptions are met.
“If we don’t meet those exceptions, we are susceptible,” Stubblefield said, noting that violations can place entire financial relationships and reimbursements at risk.
He emphasized that physician contracts must be carefully structured to ensure compliance.
“We have to make sure that we’re not inadvertently receiving a kickback,” he said, adding that regulations apply to physicians, administrators, and board members.
Neitzer also stressed the importance of routine monitoring of exclusion and sanctions lists.
“All of your vendors need to be checked through your OIG and sanctions list on a monthly basis,” she said.
She added that emergency care must never be delayed for financial screening purposes.
Stubblefield concluded the compliance portion by outlining federal compliance program requirements, including training, monitoring, and reporting structures.
He said oversight includes multiple agencies such as the Department of Health and Human Services, the Office of Inspector General, and CMS.
He emphasized that compliance is an ongoing responsibility.
“It’s not just about one issue or one contract,” Stubblefield said. “It’s the totality of the relationship.”
The board approved multiple provider term sheets and authorized CEO Steve Hanna to finalize agreements under existing policy.
Additional updates included executive leadership transitions and continued recruitment for executive assistant and compliance support roles.
The board then entered executive session under Colorado Revised Statutes 24-6-402(4)(e)(I) for negotiations and strategy discussions and 24-6-402(4)(b) for legal advice with counsel.
No action was taken following the executive session. The meeting adjourned, with the next meeting scheduled for June 23, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. at 315 6th St.
Eastern Rio Blanco Health Service District board members are sworn in during last week’s meeting at 315 6th St., returning the board to its full seven-member structure. New members Danette Coulter and Dr. Albert Krueger took their oaths of office as the board prepared to move forward with regular business items including audit review, provider contracts and operational updates. JARED HENDERSON PHOTO
