Clinic finances gain strength

, 2008

The financial picture of the Wahkiakum Family Practice Clinic is gainng strength as the year progresses, officials said Tuesday.

Clinic Business Manager Kathy Patterson reported to the board of county commissioners Tuesday that clinic staff had performed services billed at $631,774 in the first six months of the year.

Because the contracts with health insurance companies contain discounts, the clinic averages a collection rate of 65 percent, she said, meaning that the clinic will collect about $400,000 for the service.

"Collections lag about 45 days," she added.

Overall, the clinic has collected 48 percent of the revenue it predicted for the year and has spent 46 percent of its budget expenditures.

Patterson said clinic management needs to confer with county officials to determine what appropriations from the county were loans and what were unrestricted appropriations.

The county has covered the clinic's operating losses since acquiring it from PeaceHealth four years ago. Last year, the commissioners appointed an advisory board charged with helping the clinic become a self-sustaining operation that could be sold.

Patterson said the advisory board will soon send letters to county residents inviting them to subscribe to the clinic as a means of raising funds. The advisory board feels the invitation will be well received and generate substantial funds.