Q&A: RGH chief gives update on hospital's status

Editor's note: This is one in a continuing series of interviews with local officials. Kaye Green is the chief executive officer for Roosevelt General Hospital in Portales.

Q: Please update us on the financial status of the hospital? Is it getting any better?

A: Yes, RGH's financial position has significantly improved thanks to all staff and departments working collaboratively to reduce costs along with downsizing the workforce to more closely align with our current demand and pre-COVID staffing levels.

The state-directed Medicaid supplemental payments have also resumed after a nine-month delay this calendar year, along with Medicaid rate increases, which took effect on July 1.

We are still experiencing higher denial rates by insurance companies, and we are doing our best to appeal those as necessary and offset the resulting write-offs.

Q: What staff, if any, are still not yet back to full-time hours? How many hours are they working if not full-time?

A: All staff have been returned to full-time hours, with front-line staff being returned first, then department directors, and lastly our senior leaders.

Q: What about insurance coverage for the hospital? Has RGH had any luck finding a carrier?

A: Yes, two of the 12 insurance carriers were willing to provide RGH with coverage albeit at a significant increase in cost. Our medical malpractice insurance was renewed in July.

Q: RGH just announced a new air transport service. What benefits are you expecting from that agreement?

A: We partnered with AeroCare, whose parent company is Global Medical Response, to replace the air transport service that abruptly pulled out in September. It is a great benefit to our patients and community to have a permanent air transport base located at RGH.

This means better availability and accessibility to life-saving transportation for seriously ill patients who need critical care not available at hospitals our size such as cardiac intervention, trauma surgery, etc.

Q: What is your highest priority for RGH right now?

A: Our highest priority is continuing to right size our organization to combat the inflation we are all facing in healthcare at present along with expanding our services to better serve our community.

Two-thirds of all New Mexico hospitals experienced operating losses in fiscal year 2023 because of ongoing inflation, decreased payments, and increases in insurance premiums.

Our primary goal is always to expand the services we provide to better support our patients and their families and reduce the need for travel for specialty care. We already provide specialized endocrine, Hepatitis C and liver treatment, interventional pain management procedures, and behavioral health.

Over the past two years we have added women's health and bio-identical hormone replacement therapy, pediatrics, and expanded general surgery.

This next year, we will be exploring the feasibility of adding cardiology and orthopedic surgery. RGH is currently expanding our surgery department and creating a dedicated Intensive Care Unit for our patients thanks to funding we received for these specific purposes through New Mexico Capital Outlay and other sources.

- Compiled by Landry Sena, the Staff of the News