The Veteran’s Administration Clinic at North Valley Hospital is now seeing patients. Shown from left to right are Dale White, VA office volunteer, Linda Michel, NVH CEO, Eric Knievel, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Marvin Boyd, Departmen

TONASKET – The warrants for North Valley Hospital are still at $2.46 million after a slow January.

“Despite the fact we’re still not up to snuff, the revenue is not far below budget, just about $8,000 shy,” Bomi Bharucha, chief financial officer, said during the board’s meeting on Thursday, Feb. 10. “Except for the clinics, we’re pretty close to projections. Medicare withholding is why we’re shy $100,000 for this week’s target. It’s been a struggle these past two or three weeks and this week hasn’t been much better.”

He added that the money from Medicare is expected to be straightened out in the next two to three weeks.

Prior to the meeting, Administrator Linda Michel submitted a written report to the board of commissioners. In her report, she said the digital mammography machine has been ordered and was expected to be installed on Feb. 7.

“We hope to begin doing mammography again on the 24th or 25th of February,” Michel wrote.

Michel also wrote about the meeting the hospital commissioners had with the Okanogan County Commissioners on Jan. 24.

“Bharucha presented the financials showing our outstanding warrants to be at $2,393,114.22,” she wrote. “Bharucha forewarned the commissioners that January was a slow month for collections and warrant payments may be below expectations. Although the billing has been done expeditiously, Medicare and Medicaid are holding payments due to problems with yearly updates with their systems. This is a temporary issue that is affecting all hospitals and should be resolved soon.”

Finally, Michel wrote that the first patients of the new VA clinic were seen on Wednesday, Feb. 9.

The next hospital board meeting will be on Thursday, Feb. 24 at 7 p.m. in the boardroom.