Hospital board updated on dispute with IRS

For the past several months, administration at Melissa Memorial Hospital has been disputing the need for board members to be considered employees. At a regular monthly meeting of the board of the East Phillips County Hospital District on Tuesday, Jan. 4, the board approved the submission of applications to the IRS that would make the board W2 employees on the federal level.

Jimmie Bailey III, chief operating officer, updated the board on the lengthy process that MMH has gone through to dispute this issue. The options that he presented were to discontinue compensation for board members, continue to fight so that they can be considered independent contractors or designate board members as employees, which is what the board ultimately decided to do.

He said that MMH is fortunate that they are not being charged with penalties or back taxes.

Other business

In other business at the Jan. 4 meeting, the board:

— Heard a November financial report from Chief Financial Officer David Applewood. Revenue for the month was $1.6 million, expenses were $1.6 million, and there was a loss of $5,900.

— Heard a Quality Committee report from Director of Quality Karen Hooker.

— Approved credentialing for two initial applicants and five reappointments.

— Heard an update on the Holyoke Community Childcare Initiative, which is currently looking for ways to raise funds for a proposed child care center.

— Approved a resolution regarding a bank account.

— Held an executive session for personnel and strategy.