Marion County HHC Board Meeting - June 18, 2026
Marion County Health and Hospital Corporation Board Meeting - June 18, 2026
The Marion County Health and Hospital Corporation (HHC) Board of Trustees met on June 18, 2026, at 2:00 PM. The board approved a consent agenda, introduced a fee schedule ordinance for public hearing, authorized a furniture purchase for the public health lab, and received operational and financial reports from all divisions. Key actions included a 5-0 vote on the consent agenda and a 5-0 vote on the furniture purchase.
Consent Calendar
- The board approved the consent agenda by a vote of 5-0 (Vice Chairperson Drummer motioned, Trustee Du Sett seconded; Trustees O'Brien and Fish were absent). The agenda included routine items; no specifics were read into the record.
Discussion Items
- General Ordinance #1-2026 – Adoption of Marion County Public Health Department Fee Schedule: The ordinance was introduced and read for the first time by title. Tara Parchman, Director of Finance for the Public Health Department, explained that the revised schedule increases fees for dental services (enabling adult crowns) and immunizations (new vaccines and cost-based increases for existing ones). No public comments were received. The ordinance will be presented for a public hearing at the July 28, 2026 board meeting.
- Public Health Laboratory Furniture Purchase (Request for Bid): The board approved (5-0) the award of a procurement to RJE. Adelaide, Director of Purchasing, reported that 22 vendors accessed the bid, but only five responded. Felicia, from the Office of Cultural Excellence, noted that all five respondents were XBE (diverse) companies. RJE had the highest price but was the most responsive across evaluation categories, including a strong supplier participation plan, despite minor technical issues. The purchase is for fixtures and equipment (finisher package) for the new lab.
- CEO Paul Babcock Report: Babcock announced a July 2026 resolution to authorize $25 million in bonds (20-year term, maximum 6% interest) for capital projects: three IEMS ambulance stations and real property near HHC headquarters (38th Street & Millersville Road). Bond issuance will coincide with the 2027 budget adoption. Construction updates: the public health lab and IEMS headquarters are on time; a board tour is scheduled for June 25, 2026. Eskenazi Health’s First Floor Fifth Third Renovation is on schedule. Strategic plan progress continues, with Power BI dashboard launch expected soon. Budget process underway to present a balanced budget.
- CFO James Simpson Report: Simpson presented the Finance and External Audit Committee report. Forvis Mazars presented the FY2025 audit in draft form; an unmodified (clean) opinion is expected by June 26, 2026. Unaudited consolidated financials as of March 31, 2026 show cash down $3 million year-over-year, net position up $155 million, operating income favorable to budget by $20 million, and non-operating revenue favorable by $16 million. Through May 2026, the general fund deficit is $7.8 million (favorable to budget by $6.7 million). Projected year-end deficit is $15.1 million, better than the budgeted $25 million deficit due to slower hiring and bond refunding savings. The 2027 budget ordinance will be introduced to the board on July 28, 2026.
- Cultural Excellence Committee Update (Felicia): The committee reported progress on connected culture workshops and facilitator team connections (first session held May 6, 2026; quarterly sessions planned). Supplier diversity Q1 data: total applicable spend $39 million; diverse spend $5.7 million (14.69% of applicable). HHC exceeded the 3% veteran-owned business goal (3.36%) and the 1% disabled-owned business goal (1.18%).
- Dr. Virginia Kane – Marion County Public Health Department Update: Dr. Kane summarized the Public Health Committee meeting. The Bellflower Clinic (STD clinic) serves 250-300 patients per week. Dr. Human presented national and local STD trends: chlamydia and gonorrhea decreased from 2020-2024, while syphilis increased. Marion County achieved a 34% reduction in congenital syphilis cases from 2024 to 2025, surpassing the goal of a 10% reduction by 2027. A competitive federal grant (Scaling Up HIV Prevention Services, $600,000/year, increased to $883,000 for 2026) will strengthen clinic infrastructure and partnerships. The Breathe Easier asthma prevention program, in partnership with Riley Children's Hospital, conducts home assessments to reduce triggers. Upcoming events: Tire Recycle Day on June 27, 2026 (two drop-off locations, limit 6 tires per person, rims removed) and Community Health Improvement Plan kickoff on June 25, 2026 (1-4 PM at 4012 Building on the Health Department campus).
- Dr. Lisa Harris – Eskenazi Health Report: Eskenazi Health’s Family Beginnings and NICU successfully completed re-verification with no deficiencies, maintaining Level 3 obstetric and neonatal care designation. The Linda Hajnacki RN Residency Program graduated nine nurses in June. A nurse hiring event is scheduled for June 23, 2026. The Emerging Professionals Internship Program welcomed 18 interns from 16 colleges (44% Indiana institutions). The Gregory S. Fairbox Center hosts 27 interns at Eskenazi and 40 with employer partners; since 2013, over 300 interns with physical disabilities have participated.
- Dr. Dan O'Donnell – Indianapolis EMS (IEMS) Report: The Mobile Integrated Health team has made over 400 proactive community contacts this year. The Special Events team now has 19 part-time EMTs and paramedics, covering 248 events to date (including Pride Parade, Corporate Challenge, fireworks). The Crosswalk to Care nurse navigation line has handled over 1,200 calls in six months, resulting in a 46% decrease in ambulance and emergency department utilization. A recruit academy is training 24 EMTs and paramedics. AJ White received the Clear Vision Award for leadership and compassionate care.
- Julie (VP of Long-Term Care) Report: The Mayor Quality Review Team completed 21 audit visits (11 environmental/emergency preparedness, 10 clinical/administrative). May average daily census was 6,174 residents. Medicaid occupancy decreased to 72%, Medicare 7%, managed care 6%, private pay/Medicaid pending 15%. National Nursing Home Week (May 10-16) was celebrated. Trustee Hannafee and Julie visited Coventry Meadows, Sage Bluff, and Summit City (specialized ventilator unit) on June 9, 2026.
- Angela (Eskenazi Health Foundation) Report: The foundation completed the $2 million match requirement for the Lilly Endowment’s $10 million grant to the Gregory S. Fairbox Center ahead of the August 31 deadline, thanks to donors including the St. Margaret’s Hospital Guild. Grants committee has awarded over $1 million to health system needs; $1.7 million has been distributed from existing funds. Cash received as of June 1 is $2.2 million. A large research grant is pending and will be announced upon completion.
Key Outcomes
- Consent agenda approved (5-0).
- Public Health Lab furniture purchase approved (5-0), awarded to RJE.
- General Ordinance #1-2026 introduced; public hearing and possible adoption scheduled for July 28, 2026.
- Bond resolution authorizing up to $25 million in general obligation bonds for capital projects will be presented in July 2026.
- 2027 budget ordinance to be introduced at the July 28, 2026 meeting.
- Next regular board meeting: July 28, 2026 (Tuesday).
Meeting Transcript
All right, uh we'll uh uh I'm gonna ask Bishop uh Rob to uh start us off with a word of prayer, as we together approach our nation's 250th anniversary giving thanks for the gifts of life and liberty and the pursuit of happiness. We recognize that those gifts nothing if we are unable to find health, strength, and care in the communities where we reside. Therefore, this day we invoke a spirit of grace and of prudence for our board that they may at all times and in all ways served to steward the resources of our community so that all may enjoy the founding liberties our nation has to offer. Thank you, Bishop Rob. Uh, uh two o'clock, and we'll uh do a call of order. Uh before I do that, Joseph. Uh I'm not sure we do we have somebody on WebEx or not. I don't I don't believe. Okay, I I believe he told Paul he was not gonna be here. So okay, very good. Um, do a roll call with uh uh Vice Chairperson Drummer present, trustee to set, trustee Hannafee present. Trustee Horn and both Trustee O'Brien and uh trustee Dr. Fish are absent, so I will omit calling them from the remainder of the roll call, and Chair Lazar is here. So uh we have a quorum and uh the the next item uh on our agenda is the uh uh the the consent agenda uh and uh uh hopefully members have had a chance to look through that. Uh I'll do a roll call uh for approval of consent agenda. Uh trust uh uh chairperson or vice chairperson drummer like a motion on that. I move that we accept the agenda. It's been motioned by uh Vice Chairperson Drummer and seconded by Trustee Du Sett. Uh the roll call vote for uh uh Vice Chairperson Drummer. Aye, uh Trustee Du Set. Trustee Hannafee, Trustee Horn, and both trustee uh O'Brien and Fish are absent. Uh the chair votes aye, and so it carries uh uh six six zero. Um, two, three, four, five. Okay, it's just it's math. Five-zero. Um the uh uh the the first uh uh order of uh uh business is the uh general ordinance uh number one-26, the adoption of the Marion County Public Health Department fee schedule, which is in your board book on page 18, it starts on page 18 of 185, and uh uh so uh uh I'm gonna ask uh our general counsel uh to uh to read an appropriate introduction. Dear trustees, general ordinance number one-2026 adoption of Marion County Public Health Department fee schedule was posted in Board Effect, the online platform for HHC Board of Trustee documents on Friday, June 12, 2026. The ordinance establishes a revised fee schedule for the Marion County Public Health Department. Sincerely, Robert W. Lazard, Chairperson, House and Hospital Corporation of Marion County, Indiana. Chair Lazard, I request a general ordinance number one-2026 be received for introduction and order read for the first time by title. The uh ordinance will be received and read for the first time by uh uh HHC's general counsel. Number one, number one-2026, adoption of Marion County Public Health Department fee schedule. Thank you. Uh no one uh from the public signed up today to to speak to the ordinance. Are there any uh comments or questions uh from the uh from the board? Uh the uh ordinance will be presented uh for public hearing at the July 28th uh meeting. Oh. Okay. Uh so uh I'd like to have uh uh Tara Parchman who is our director of finance for Marion County Public Health Department uh jump back in and go over what I skipped. Thank you, Chair. I don't know if you skipped anything, but I'll just say briefly that the um proposal uh represents the increases for um certain services that we provide, which includes dental, so that we can provide crowns to our um adult um patients that we see, and also we looked at our immunization fee schedule for our clinics, and we're introducing uh new vaccines as well as increasing the fees of existing vaccines due to increased costs, and so that is the proposal before the board. Thank you. Are there any questions from the board uh for Tara? Again, the ordinance will be presented for public hearing at the July 28, 2026 uh board meeting. Uh with that, then the next item on our agenda is a request for a public health lab uh furniture purchase. Uh, and that can be found in your board book on uh board effects at on page starting on page 23 of 185. Uh and I would ask for a motion uh uh to uh to approve the uh request for bid. So move it's been moved by uh vice chair person drummer. Is there a second?
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