Editor’s Note: According to a story by reporter Meg Laughlin published today by VeroNews.com, Indian River County taxpayers have for at least the past three years paid $400,000 a year to Indian River Medical Center, not for indigent care, but for overhead expenses and administrative salaries. The apparent overcharges came to light when healthcare accountant Ken Conner presented the results of his review of the Indian River Hospital District’s reimbursements to the Indian River Medical Center.

The District and the Medical Center have yet to agree on a reimbursement plan for the current fiscal year. The Hospital wants a total of $9.4 million in taxpayer money, but District Trustees, who hold elective office, have so far offered $7 million, $6 million for direct reimbursement for indigent care and $1 million to help fund the Partners In Health childbirth clinic.

Hospital District paying for more than indigent care

NDIAN RIVER COUNTY — When Hospital District trustees met last week with the accountant they hired to comb through Indian River Medical Center finances, they got some disturbing information: The property tax dollars they have directed to the hospital for indigent care for several years paid for more than that, healthcare accountant Ken Conner told them. MORE…