A Deep Dive Into Finances for the Bent County Public Health Department

Stepping in as Interim Health Department Director for Bent County, Rick Ritter handed out a 22 page packet during Tuesday evening's Board of Health work session.

Ritter is the Otero County Health Department Director and is stepping in to help while Bent County searches for a new director. Ritter was asked to look at finances of the department and come up with a plan of what must be done to get on track.

Part of that getting on track includes handling questions of Medicaid payment denials for 2024 in the amount of $713,807.51 and 2025 in the amount of $306,557.51. Ritter promised a deep dive into the issue and emailed the Senior Revenue Cycle Coordinator Lead Lead for MatrixCare, Nicki Berry. MatrixCare handles the billing for Medicaid. Ritter told the board that he reached out to Berry to clarify but as of this moment has not heard back.

Ritter elaborated the plan moving forward would be to get an estimate from MatrixCare regarding the Medicaid amount in arrears and work with staff to do a forensic accounting analysis. If the amount is more money owed to Bent County Public Health, they will request the balance of the funds. Ritter hopes to have an update on this for the July meeting.

Board member Cathy Tempel asked, "Why are we using MatrixCare? Ritter answered that maybe it is because they are the only ones doing this work. He said it's part of what he calls the "Deep Dive" into all of this for answers.

Former Bent County Health Department Director Joni Wilk resigned her position in May, her last day of work was June 13th. Ritter retrieved the following items from Wilk:

• office key

• agency credit card

• home health med bag,

• purple password book

• laptop with a purple bag

Ritter told staff to change her BCPH Amazon account password and to deactivate her credit card.

Ritter is currently reviewing information to learn more about the BCPH salary schedules, staff classifications, salaried and fringe packages to compare them to local and state job markets. Ritter is hopeful he can have the information for the July meeting.

In the name of transparency, Ritter shared with the board his expenses since taking on the duty of Interim Director.

There is a lot to do. Ritter asked for patience while he works through understanding what has happened.

"It's going to move at the speed of government, it just is."

Ritter stressed he wants transparency for the department and said the budget would be available to the public to see. There will not be a requirement for a CORA request to see it.

To date, one application has been received for the position of Bent County Public Health Director.

Anne Boswell, anneboswell@coloradonewsyourway.com