New patient portal, compliance changes and long-term planning discussed as four candidates file for hospital district seats.
MEEKER | The Pioneers Medical Center board received updates on billing reforms, compliance oversight, staffing and long-term planning during last Wednesday’s meeting, as hospital leaders outlined changes aimed at improving patient experience, financial stability and community trust.
Hospital staff reported progress on long-standing billing issues. A redesigned patient statement — described as the result of nearly a year of work — is expected to launch in May. The new statements will be paired with an online billing portal. Patients will be able to view balances, charges under insurance review, denied or appealed claims and payment history. Each statement will include a QR code linking patients directly to their account.
Hospital leaders also said the facility is shifting away from its longtime outside collections vendor, ARS, and moving toward in-house self-pay billing, staffed by an on-site billing team so patients can speak directly with hospital staff.
Senior Finance Analyst Janae Stanworth provided a thorough financial report at the start of the meeting, later followed by an analysis from an Ovation consultant about the hospital’s cash collections timeline. The consultant is developing a one-page dashboard highlighting key indicators — including cash collections, accounts receivable performance and reserves — to help trustees monitor the hospital’s financial health.
Interim CEO Steve Hannah also presented a revised organizational chart designed to streamline reporting relationships and establish a clearer leadership structure.
The new model formalizes a senior leadership team and creates a new position — senior director of provider services — to oversee clinic operations, advanced practice providers and CRNAs while guiding outpatient strategy.
With the hospital’s compliance position currently vacant, the board approved a four-month agreement with an Ovation advisor to serve as interim compliance officer and help develop a long-term compliance structure.
Board members also received an update on the upcoming hospital district election that will restore the original seven-member board. Officials reported the district has met its most significant election deadlines and will move forward with four candidates running for two seats.
Danette Coulter and Bobby Gutierrez are candidates for a three-year term, while Dr. Albert Krueger and Shawn Bolton are running for a one-year term.
The election will be conducted entirely by mail. Election day, and the deadline for returning mail ballots, is May 5, 2026.
Polling-place elections are typically used when multiple local districts have elections at the same time, but for this special election, mail ballots are more practical.
“It’s substantially less burdensome and administratively more efficient to run a total mail-in ballot. Most districts do run total mail-in ballots,” said PMC legal counsel Bob Gardner.
Residents who believe they are eligible voters for the Eastern Rio Blanco County Health Services District but are unsure whether they are on the list are encouraged to contact the hospital to verify their registration.
Looking ahead, Hannah encouraged trustees to think beyond short-term operations.
“As a CEO, I need to be thinking at least three years out,” he said. “From your perspective as a board, you need to be thinking five, 10, 15 or even 20 years.”
He asked the board to consider commissioning a market-share analysis using claims and zip-code data to better understand where local residents seek care and where services could expand.
The board went into executive session for the purpose of discussing matters concerning strategic directions for the Colorado Advanced Orthopedics Craig Clinics, personnel matters, and seeking legal advice on legal matters.
