Hospital district adopts FCH FY 2025-2026 budget

Jack County Hospital District board of directors adopted the Faith Community Health System annual budget for fiscal year 2025-2026, showing a net income of $377,929.

Total income before expenses was calculated at $60,490,269 while total operating and non-operating expenses was $60,112,340.

“This budget was a team effort,” FCH Chief Financial Officer Kim Lee said. “We had all of our managers and our executives meet and we went through all of their expenses and any changes that may have come about.”

Lee said numbers were based on operation statistics from each department which were reviewed before being applied to revenues and expenses.

The hospital also budgeted out capital requests for the next three years, with requested expenses for FY 2025-2026 totaling $176,999 to purchase equipment for surgeries, respiratory therapy, dietary needs, emergency room needs, IT and the wellness center. 

EMS requested two new ambulances which could be funded through a state grant opening in January 2026.

Enacted earlier this year, Texas House Bill 3000 established the Rural Ambulance Service Grant Program to help rural communities purchase new ambulances, with grants awarded up to $500,000 for counties with a population of under 10,000 residents and up to $350,000 to counties with a population between 10,000 and 68,750. The purpose of the program was to strengthen emergency response capabilities while ensuring equitable access to care in underserved regions across the state.

Hospital officials discussed ways to increase revenue, including reducing the number of Medicare Advantage health insurance claims and increasing the number of traditional Medicare claims. In 2020, 31% of payors made claims through Medicare while 16% made claims through Medicare Advantage. In 2025, 28% of claims were made through traditional Medicare while 23% of claims were made through Medicare Advantage.

“We’ve partnered with nine or ten other hospitals in the region in a campaign trying to inform people of the disadvantages of Medicare Advantage,” FCH CEO Frank Beaman said. “What we are seeing across the state is a lot of hospitals jumping out of Medicare Advantage…going back to traditional Medicare.”

Beaman said it was already a fight to get payment for claims.

“It’s something we have to watch and stay on top of,” Beaman said.