OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Health and Hospital Corporation Board Meeting – May 20, 2026

Other Meetings (A-H) — Wednesday, May 20, 2026
BodyIndianapolis, Indiana
SessionOther Meetings (A-H)
DateWednesday, May 20, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 41:18
Transcript — Verbatim
0:16

Alright, it's uh 159.

0:19

I'm gonna ask uh Bishop Rob to uh lead us in prayer.

0:29

As we assemble this day, pondering the various needs of our organizations, we seek wisdom, guidance, and peace for those who speak, for those who ponder, and for the decisions that will flow from this place today.

0:51

Thank you.

0:52

Uh I'll uh do a uh call the order and uh roll call vote.

0:58

Uh Vice Chairperson Drummer present.

1:01

Trustee DeSett.

1:03

Present.

1:03

Trustee Dr.

1:04

Fish.

1:05

Present.

1:05

Trustee Hannafee, present.

1:07

Trustee Horn.

1:08

Present.

1:09

Trustee O'Brien.

1:10

Present.

1:10

And Trustee Lazard is here as well.

1:14

Um and uh so our consent agenda consists of the board minutes of uh April uh 21st uh 2026.

1:25

Uh the memorandum of executive session, April 21st, 2026.

1:29

Treasurer and CFO uh uh report, including the April 2026 cash disbursements, which are all in the board effects package, the clinical privilege forms, which are summarized the changes of which are summarized on page 12 of 181 in your board book package, the medical appointments uh which uh start on page 107 of 181 in your board book, as well as the medical staff policies, numerous changes which are summarized on page 114 of 181 in your board book package.

2:03

Uh, is there a motion to approve the consent agenda?

2:06

Oh, it's been moved.

2:07

It's moved and seconded.

2:09

I'll do a roll call vote.

2:10

Uh Vice Chairperson Drummer.

2:12

Yes.

2:13

Trustee Jussette.

2:14

Yes.

2:15

Trustee uh Dr.

2:16

Fish.

2:17

Yes.

2:17

Trustee Hannafee.

2:18

Yes.

2:19

Trustee Horn.

2:20

Yes.

2:20

Trustee O'Brien.

2:22

Yes.

2:22

And trustee Lazard vote, yes, as well.

2:25

So that motion carries uh 7-0.

2:29

Uh the uh that moves us uh into the uh the reports, and we'll start uh as if we do every meeting with health and hospital corp, and I'll turn it over to our president and CEO, Paul Back.

2:42

Thank you.

2:44

Just a few things for update today.

2:47

One uh headquarters and health department are going to be appearing before the municipal corporations committee tomorrow to uh reapprove the surgeon program.

2:56

Um, so we look forward to continuing after our state and county, Dr.

3:01

Keynes.

3:04

So we're really excited for that.

3:06

Uh second, it turns out that there is a art behind or just south of IMS headquarters, and we are partnering with the parts department to improve that part.

3:17

Is that neighborhood is a part desert?

3:19

Um so we look forward to continuing our contribution to the community.

3:23

There's a community meeting, Thursday eating uh to talk about ideas and what we can uh put in the park to allow folks to at walk rooms, be healthy, be active.

3:35

Uh third, the first floor walkthrough for the fifth bit of building was completed last week, and so proposals are due in June.

3:41

So we expect to get a few of those back and then hopefully start construction on that facility.

3:47

Uh fourth, uh the public health lab furniture package uh is be appearing before the board in June for your approval.

3:54

This is probably one of the last packages for the building, and we'll be looking forward to opening in September with modern new furniture, comfortable chairs, just an inviting environment for everybody.

4:04

Um, um IMPE will begin to tear down uh the Forest Manor site in June.

4:12

Uh the site of 38th and Sherman.

4:14

We partnered with the city to basically do a 99 year ground lease, and they'll be able to move 98 North District to that site and provide better services for the community as well as continue to improve that corridor.

4:27

So we look forward to the city really working on that, and uh, we know they have money in the budget to carry on, they're working with the council to get money for construction.

4:34

I think they've also gonna be a design.

4:36

And then finally, just as an informational aspect for the board, uh, we'll be starting union negotiations in the next few months, both with Asking me here at the hospital as well as with uh level four sixteen uh with paramedics.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Health████████████████████████████████████████████44%
Procedural████████████████████████24%
Fiscal Sustainability████████████████████████24%
Personnel Matters█████5%
Arts And Culture███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Health and Hospital Corporation Board Meeting – May 20, 2026

The Health and Hospital Corporation (HHC) Board of Trustees met on May 20, 2026, to approve the consent agenda, receive updates from HHC divisions including Eskenazi Health, Marion County Public Health Department, EMS, long-term care, and the Foundation. Key reports addressed financial performance, strategic planning, operational pressures on the safety net, and service expansions.

Consent Calendar

  • The board approved the consent agenda (7-0), including board minutes of April 21, 2026, executive session memorandum, Treasurer/CFO report with April 2026 cash disbursements, clinical privilege forms, medical appointments, and medical staff policies.

Discussion Items

President and CEO Report (Paul Back)

  • HHC headquarters and health department will appear before the Municipal Corporations Committee to reapprove the surgeon program.
  • Partnership with parks department to improve a park in a food desert; community meeting scheduled for Thursday.
  • First floor walkthrough for the Fifth Baptist Building completed; proposals due in June.
  • Public health lab furniture package to be presented for board approval in June; building opening expected in September.
  • IMPE will begin demolition of Forest Manor site (38th and Sherman) in June; 99-year ground lease with city to move 98 North District to that site.
  • Union negotiations with hospital and paramedics will begin in the next few months.

Interim CFO Report (James Simpson) – Strategic Plan and Financials

  • The Strategic Plan Committee met May 14; covered HHC mission/vision/values, strategic priorities, and 2030 destination measures. Four pillar owners presented KPIs with red/yellow/green status.
  • Financial report as of April 30, 2026: General fund balance increased by $14.8 million, unfavorable to budget by $1.8 million. Public health revenue favorable by $600,000; grants below budget by $3.8 million. Personal services favorable by $2.4 million but expected to trend toward budget. Supplies unfavorable by $3.3 million due to open purchase orders; $2.4 million of that due to duplicate computer supply POs expected to be corrected in May. Year-end projected deficit of $23.9 million compared to budgeted $25.1 million.
  • HHC must annually report employee total compensation for headquarters and health department divisions to State Board of Accounts per IC 5-11-13-1; 2025 information to be submitted.
  • The Annual Comprehensive Financial Report draft will be presented to Finance and External Audit Committee on June 16.

Marion County Public Health Department (Dr. Virginia Kane)

  • Community health assessment conversation scheduled for May 28 at University of Indianapolis.
  • Northeast District Health Office relocated to 2505 North Arlington Avenue as of May 6.
  • Art and mural RFPs for new public health laboratory building (38th and Rural Street) received strong response; a mural has been selected and will be developed based on site themes.

Eskenazi Health State of the System (Dr. Lisa Harris)

  • U.S. healthcare system delivers poor outcomes at high cost; Eskenazi is a true safety net with twice the Medicaid/uninsured population. Largest payer (Medicaid) reimburses ~53 cents on the dollar.
  • HHC building a high-value model focusing on primary care, behavioral health, and social drivers; supports 16,000+ families.
  • Marion County Medicaid declined 25%, uninsured visits up 81%, hospitalizations up 7% for uninsured. Approximately 22% of funding at risk.
  • Internal actions: $35 million financial improvement in 2026, $86 million by 2030, including cost reductions, revenue cycle and tech improvements, strategic growth.
  • First quarter $13.2 million behind budget on revenue but $3.9 million ahead on expenses due to cost control.
  • Advocacy for formal definition of safety net systems and sustainable funding.

Quality Committee Update (Dr. Lisa Harris)

  • New Chief Quality Officer introduced.
  • Focus on value-based care contracts; moving from performance-based to shared savings and toward shared risk/capitation.
  • Eskenazi is part of Clinically Integrated Network of Indiana (largest FQHC in state) collaborating on quality and efficiency.
  • Initiatives: outreach for high-risk patients, increasing notarization rates, follow-up on missed appointments, hypertension management.
  • CMS age-friendly hospital initiative for patients 65+; gap analysis shows work is being done but not standardized; goal to create reliable policy structure.

Eskenazi Behavioral Health Expansion (Dr. Overly)

  • After Community Health Network stopped providing community mental health center (CMHC) services, Sandra Eskenazi Mental Health Center designated as new CMHC for Warren and Lawrence Townships, bringing $1.9 million in county mental health tax funding.
  • Will also operate as Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCDHC), a more sustainable model.
  • Transitioning four specific locations from Community Health Network; priority on uninterrupted services.
  • Annual Recovery and Remembrance event scheduled for May 29 at Crown Club Center.

EMS Report (Dr. O’Connor)

  • EMS Week celebrated; cookouts and bean signing event on May 21 at headquarters.
  • First building site tours of new EMS headquarters for leadership on Thursday.
  • Indiana EMS Association Golden Sier Awards: Lt. Anthony Garcia – Paramedic of the Year; Tom Harkins – Legislative Advocate of the Year; Chuck Ford – Golden Iron Honoree.
  • 30th pre-hospital blood transfusion performed successfully in partnership with Eskenazi Blood Bank.
  • Upcoming race and parade weekend: EMS providing medical coverage for 500 Festival Parade, camping lots, and snake pit concert.

Long-Term Care Report (Julian)

  • As of May 1, JC became operator of Calvin Butler facilities; portfolio: 74 skilled nursing facilities and 2 assisted living.
  • In April, 21 audit visits completed; average daily census increased from 6,000 to 6,150; Medicaid occupancy at 78%.
  • Governor signed reform bill shifting managed Medicaid programs for older adults and long-term care.
  • Northeast Indiana facility visits planned for June.

Eskenazi Health Foundation (Angela)

  • Provided bridge funding of under $1 million to date for operational support: gardens at AMP, research department regulatory support, social drivers of health.
  • Generated ~$10 million philanthropic impact annually; next meeting will share first quarter contributions.

Key Outcomes

  • Consent agenda approved unanimously (7-0).
  • Board received reports and updates as presented; no formal votes on discussion items.
  • Next board meeting scheduled for Tuesday, June 16, 2026.
  • No public comments were made; no unfinished or new business.

Note: The meeting date is May 20, 2026, as provided. All times and dates referenced are as stated in the transcript.

Meeting Transcript

Alright, it's uh 159. I'm gonna ask uh Bishop Rob to uh lead us in prayer. As we assemble this day, pondering the various needs of our organizations, we seek wisdom, guidance, and peace for those who speak, for those who ponder, and for the decisions that will flow from this place today. Thank you. Uh I'll uh do a uh call the order and uh roll call vote. Uh Vice Chairperson Drummer present. Trustee DeSett. Present. Trustee Dr. Fish. Present. Trustee Hannafee, present. Trustee Horn. Present. Trustee O'Brien. Present. And Trustee Lazard is here as well. Um and uh so our consent agenda consists of the board minutes of uh April uh 21st uh 2026. Uh the memorandum of executive session, April 21st, 2026. Treasurer and CFO uh uh report, including the April 2026 cash disbursements, which are all in the board effects package, the clinical privilege forms, which are summarized the changes of which are summarized on page 12 of 181 in your board book package, the medical appointments uh which uh start on page 107 of 181 in your board book, as well as the medical staff policies, numerous changes which are summarized on page 114 of 181 in your board book package. Uh, is there a motion to approve the consent agenda? Oh, it's been moved. It's moved and seconded. I'll do a roll call vote. Uh Vice Chairperson Drummer. Yes. Trustee Jussette. Yes. Trustee uh Dr. Fish. Yes. Trustee Hannafee. Yes. Trustee Horn. Yes. Trustee O'Brien. Yes. And trustee Lazard vote, yes, as well. So that motion carries uh 7-0. Uh the uh that moves us uh into the uh the reports, and we'll start uh as if we do every meeting with health and hospital corp, and I'll turn it over to our president and CEO, Paul Back. Thank you. Just a few things for update today. One uh headquarters and health department are going to be appearing before the municipal corporations committee tomorrow to uh reapprove the surgeon program. Um, so we look forward to continuing after our state and county, Dr. Keynes. So we're really excited for that. Uh second, it turns out that there is a art behind or just south of IMS headquarters, and we are partnering with the parts department to improve that part. Is that neighborhood is a part desert? Um so we look forward to continuing our contribution to the community. There's a community meeting, Thursday eating uh to talk about ideas and what we can uh put in the park to allow folks to at walk rooms, be healthy, be active.

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