West Ascension Parish Hospital plans to invest $350,000 in a rural health clinic expansion and early planning for a future hospital as part of a fiscal year 2027 budget that also anticipates a positive operating result of about $1.15 million. The budget sets aside $250,000 for planning related to a future hospital and the parish’s long-term health care infrastructure. Another $100,000 would support the build-out and expansion of a rural health clinic, while $125,000 is earmarked for repairs, equipment and operational improvements at the existing hospital. Altogether, the hospital projects approximately $15.85 million in net operating revenue and plans $475,000 in capital investments. The Ascension Parish Council approved the operating and capital budgets in a 7-2 vote last week, despite questions about whether the hospital has fully addressed 11 findings in its most recent audit. Council members Joel Robert and Brian Hillensbeck voted against approval. Hospital CEO Shelton Anthony said eight of the findings originated before the current administration. The hospital received the audit deficiencies in April and implemented remedies in May and June, he said. The hospital board has since adopted a corrective action plan establishing new policies, internal controls and compliance protocols. Those measures include monthly financial reconciliations and revised procurement procedures. “We did not simply acknowledge the findings, but we institutionalized those solutions,” Anthony said. “Today we have a policy in place. We have procedures in place.” The hospital detailed its response to each finding in a document submitted to the council. Among the changes, the hospital hired an outside CPA firm to create a standardized month-end closing checklist and reconcile all balance sheet accounts monthly. The goal, according to the document, is to provide the board with verified, current financial information. The hospital also revised its procurement policy after a renovation contract exceeded the state bidding threshold without being formally advertised. Internal spending limits are now tied directly to state law, and legal counsel must review and approve all major contracts before they are executed. Robert questioned whether the hospital had demonstrated that the underlying problems were corrected. He sought to delay the budget vote until a representative of the accounting firm could address the findings, but his motion failed for lack of a second. The next test of the corrective measures is expected within the next few months, when another audit is anticipated. Council members said that review should provide an opportunity to evaluate whether the hospital’s changes are working. Read previous Ascension Business Report coverage of the hospital audit. ...read more read less