Health and Hospital Corporation Board of Trustees Meeting – April 22, 2026
Health and Hospital Corporation Board of Trustees Meeting – April 22, 2026
The Health and Hospital Corporation (HHC) Board of Trustees met on April 22, 2026, with six members present (one absent). The board approved several resolutions and received updates from HHC divisions and affiliates, including financial reports, compliance audits, public health initiatives, and operational milestones.
Consent Calendar
- The board approved the consent agenda unanimously (6-0-1).
Resolutions and Actions
- Adoption of Eskenazi Health Bylaws (Resolution 4-2026): Julie Conrad, Chief Counsel, presented minor updates to the hospital bylaws, including changes to committee descriptions and appointment timing. The board approved the resolution (6-0-1).
- Adoption of Eskenazi Health Medical Staff Bylaws (Resolution 5-2026): Dr. Dan Raciniak, Chief Medical Officer, presented updates clarifying leadership roles and voting member composition. The medical staff and medical executive committee had previously approved the changes. The board approved (6-0-1).
- Agency Economic Impact Plan: Felicia Rosenberg, Director of Supplier Engagement, presented the required annual plan for 2026 and outcomes for 2025. Outcomes included completion of a spend dashboard and first corporate economic impact report. The board approved the plan (6-0-1).
CEO and CFO Reports
- CEO Paul Babcock announced an RFP for renovation of the Fifth Third building first floor, the upcoming strategic planning committee meeting, budget season beginning, and construction progress at the public health lab and headquarters. He also thanked staff for a town hall.
- CFO James Simpson reported the general fund deficit through March 31, 2026, was $13 million, slightly unfavorable to budget by $1.5 million. Projected year-end deficit is under $21 million (budgeted $25 million), driven by favorable personal services due to delayed hiring. Revenues from public health exceeded budget; supplies and other charges were unfavorable due to open purchase orders. Capital transfers to the hospital totaled $12.3 million through March.
Committee and Operational Reports
- Compliance and Internal Audit: Lisa Taylor reported that the internal audit team has seven audits planned for the fiscal year, with three in progress. Compliance presented a five-year plan and hotline data showed no significant issues.
- Cultural Excellence and Supplier Diversity: Dr. McInla Jones and Felicia Rosenberg reported ongoing training workshops and supplier diversity metrics. Total SPE spend for 2025 was $37,010,020.14 for HHC, and $20,870,466.72 for Eskenazi/Corporate reported to OMWBD.
- Marion County Public Health Department: Dr. Virginia King highlighted that Marion County’s infant mortality rate (9.9 per 1,000 live births) is well above the state’s 2030 goal of 6.2. A multi-pronged strategy includes home visiting, safe sleep resources, and parenting education. Financials were favorable to budget. The department’s community health assessment identified top concerns: mental health, access to care, safe/affordable housing, trauma/injury prevention, and infant mortality.
- Eskenazi Health – Mental Health: Dr. Ashley Overly announced that Eskenazi Health received the Platinum Level Mental Health America Bell Seal for workplace mental health for the second consecutive year, recognizing efforts to support employee mental health.
- Indianapolis Emergency Medical Services (IEMS): Dr. Dan O’Donnell reported successful Final Four coverage; the mobile integrated health team achieved a 93% reduction in unnecessary 911 use. New continuing education initiatives include an EMS escape room. IEMS will provide medical coverage for May events (Mini Marathon, 500 Parade, Eli Lilly celebration). Two providers will ride in the 500 Parade.
- Long-Term Care: Julie White reported HHC became operator of Sage Bluff and Greystone Rehabilitation on April 1, 2026. Daily facility census averages near 6,000 residents. Quality review audits continue. A CMS proposed rule for FY2027 was released.
- Eskenazi Health Foundation: Angela White reported that in 2025, the foundation distributed $1.28 million through its grants committee and $8.1 million from permanent funds, and raised $8 million in new commitments. For 2026, $3.9 million is available for distribution; $1 million has been awarded including operational funds. A new strategic plan was approved with goals to fund community health, support value-based care, and secure unrestricted funds.
Public Comment
- No public comments were made.
Key Outcomes
- Consent agenda approved (6-0-1).
- Eskenazi Health Bylaws (Resolution 4-2026) adopted (6-0-1).
- Eskenazi Health Medical Staff Bylaws (Resolution 5-2026) adopted (6-0-1).
- Agency Economic Impact Plan approved (6-0-1).
- The next board meeting is scheduled for May 19, 2026.
Meeting Transcript
As we gather this day with an awareness of the diverse needs of our community and the resources at our disposal to provide for those needs. We seek wisdom, care, grace, and compassion for those who will inform our board for the steps our board will take, and for all those who being committed to their care will be the recipients of resources of our community to further their health, their well-being, and the cohesion of our community. Amen. Thank you, Vishram. Um, and with that, um I'll uh do a uh call to order and a roll call vote. Uh uh Vice Chairperson Drummer Trustee Du Set Present, Trustee Dr. Fish Present, Trustee Hannafi. I believe Trustee Horn is not with us. Is that correct, Joseph? Um and uh Trustee O'Brien present and um chairperson Lazard is present. So six of us are here and one's absent. Um I'll ask for a motion to approve the uh consent agenda. So moved and moved by trustee du set, seconded by trustee Hannafi. Are there any questions? All in favor, I'll uh say aye. All opposed say no. I'll uh do a roll call vote. Uh uh vice chairperson drummer. Aye. Trustee Du Set. Aye. Trustee Dr. Fish. Aye, trustee Hannafee. Aye. Trustee O'Brien. Aye. And for the Vice Co Chairperson Lazard votes yes. Um motion carries uh 601. Uh the uh resolution uh for the adoption of uh Eskenazi Health uh bylaws. Uh is there a uh motion to approve the uh Eskenazi Health bylaws. So moved it's been moved by Dr. Fish, seconded by uh trustee uh O'Brien. I would like to introduce Julie Conrad, our chief uh counsel and vice president of legal affairs at Eskenazi Health to uh give us an update and a brief on this uh information, which is in your board effects uh packaged uh page 79. 79, thank you. Afternoon. Um as Dr. Hurris mentioned last month at the Sonazi Health Committee meeting. Um we're here to present some updates to the Eskenazi Health uh bylaws, and then Dr. Lisania's gonna give some updates to the Eskenazi Health Medical Staff files as well. So um HHC' code requires that the board adopt bylaws for the governing of the hospitals that it oversees and that those bylaws are approved by resolution. The Indiana Administrative Code also requires that the hospital board adopt bylaws and that they be reviewed triennially. So the board last reviewed our bylaws in May of 2023, so they are up for renewal um this May. Um so uh what we've done is done a review of the bylaws and basically just made some updates. There's not really any substantive changes to the bylaws, which have been in place for quite a little time. Um the changes that were made were um to update the different committees of the board to represent the current committees and give a description of um what those committees do, and then there was a provision in the bylaws that we um that stated that the director of the division of public hospitals must be appointed at an annual meeting of the board. And that was modified just to say that that position could be appointed at any meeting of the board because there was no that gives the board more flexibility and there wasn't a statutory reason for district that's annual meeting. So those were the only changes this year to the bylaws for this three days. Are there any questions for uh Julie? Thank you.
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