George's Higher Ed Med Shed

UTMB'S Operating Margin Must Be Positive

Image via Wikipedia

It is still occurring. Yet another article, this time in the Houston Chronicle, says that UTMB is in the black after years of being in the red. People listening to UTMB management had to listen closely to what they said. They would start out talking about the operating margin or the operating budget being in some sort of deficit, and then dropped the operating part and just talk about the deficit. Year after year of annual financial statements show that after all sources of revenue were added into the formula, UTMB was in the black. Actually, UTMB has been in the black most years. Admittedly, when Hurricane Ike struck, UTMB was in financial trouble  to some extent, given  the UT System's refusal to rescue the institution.To this day, I do not believe that financial trouble could possibly justify what was done to faculty. The recent AAUP report tends to support that conclusion.

And now we have the chief financial officer of UTMB offering a variety of reasons for why they're in the black now, but there's one reason he virtually skirts around. That reason, of course, would be the layoffs. 3000 people laid off will certainly trim a lot of money from a budget. UTMB learned that lesson well, if the recent decision to lay off over 300 prison health care employees is any indication. The reasons that the chief financial officer does give are disturbing to me. For instance, the CFO mentions more paying patients and fewer indigent patients. While I am proud that UTMB is getting more paying patients, I am afraid that they may be getting those patients at Galveston's expense. The new Victory Lakes campus in League City would seem to be part and parcel of a headlong rush to more wealthy patients, while fewer indigent patients would seem to be the direct opposite of going for the paying patients. Galveston has had a traditional role in treating indigent patients all over the state. I recognize that the legislature has not reimbursed UTMB adequately for this service. That said, one would think the humanitarian effort would override the state's budget peccadillos. Apparently, UTMB management does not think so. They are already making plenty of noise about losing money in prison inmate health care. I think the writing is just about on the wall. Yet another lesson that UTMB management has learned well is that the public has a short memory

UTMB finances healthy again

GALVESTON — Although other campuses in the University of Texas system are forecasting deficits, the University of Texas Medical Branch is in the black after years of red ink and a disastrous period following Hurricane Ike, UTMB's financial officer said last week.

UTMB was losing $40 million a month after the hurricane struck Galveston almost two years ago.

Related articles by Zemanta

• UTMB Plans Another Reduction (reamy.typepad.com)
• More on Texas prison health care cuts (reamy.typepad.com)
• Utmb's $4.7m Deal With Emergency Room Contractor (reamy.typepad.com)
• Victory Lakes: Galveston's Loss is League City's Gain (reamy.typepad.com)
• Utmb Is Official Member of Houston's Texas Medical Center (reamy.typepad.com)

A&M Partnering with UT

Image via Wikipedia

M.D. Anderson, Texas A&M and UT to forge cancer research partnership - Houston Business Journal

The Texas A&M University System, the University of Texas System and the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center will unveil a landmark cancer research partnership Wednesday afternoon.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Dallas Morning News Addresses Big Money Makers Tribune Missed (reamy.typepad.com)
• Texas Tribune Breaks Down Pay (reamy.typepad.com)
• Ut Paying for Uthsc Houston President's Commuting Costs From Pa (reamy.typepad.com)
• Ut Going After Uc Faculty (reamy.typepad.com)

Texas Tribune Breaks Down Pay

I'm not sure how they account for Podolsky and Callender, both of whom, as do others, make more than $904K.  Many thanks to Londonista for bringing this story to my attention. (I'm still in the hospital & typing with one hand, so things will still be a little slow for awhile.)

Data App: More University Pay | The Texas Tribune

The top administrator paycheck belongs to Scott Ransom, the president of the University of North Texas Health Sciences Center, who earns $904,562 — 20 percent more than the $750,000 salary of University of Texas System Chancellor Francisco Cigarroa. The top professor paycheck also goes to an employee of the UNT Health Sciences Center: Martin Weiss, an assistant professor who is a highly respected medical doctor. He earns $675,000.

Related articles by Zemanta

• MD Program at UNT Takes Step Forward (reamy.typepad.com)
• Ut Paying for Uthsc Houston President's Commuting Costs From Pa (reamy.typepad.com)

Klebe v. UTHSC-SA: Klebe wins over $155K in Attorney Fees, UT Loses Motion for new Trial

Image via Wikipedia

After six years of struggling with the giant UT System, David, in the person of Professor of Molecular Biology, Dr. Robert Klebe, has felled Goliath--unless, of course, Goliath decides to appeal, but for now, the giant's backside is firmly on terra firma.  Not too long ago, Dr. Klebe won an award of $900,000 via his successful retaliation suit, but that was eventually pared down to $300,000 in keeping with state law.  Dr. Klebe's team came back to court to recover attorney's fees and expenses, asking for nearly $450,000.  When the dust settled after the giant's backside hit the dirt this time, Dr. Klebe's team was awarded just over $155,000 in fees and expenses.  Sure, it's short of what Dr. Klebe asked for, but it's still a good chunk of change.  Linked below is the court document which shows how the court arrived at the above amount.  It also gives a pretty good history of the case, as well. 

Download Klebe v UTHSC-SA Atty Fees 2010

Finally, the court declared that UT had tried to wiggle out of the suit long enough when it denied UT's motion for a new trial:

Download Klebe v UTHSC-SA re-trial denied 2010

Every tenured professor in Texas owes the tenacious Bob Klebe a debt of gratitude. 

Related articles by Zemanta

• Klebe V. Uthsc San Antonio Decision (reamy.typepad.com)
• Kristi Santi V. Uthsc Houston (reamy.typepad.com)
• University of Texas Medical Branch v. Nightingale (reamy.typepad.com)
• UT Pattern? Kalyanaram Case Similar to Gentilello Whistleblower Case (reamy.typepad.com)

Curtain Lifted on UT Tax Filings

Image via Wikipedia

Apparently, Governor Perry put UT in a headlock and wrestled it to the floor.  UT's instinct, despite the rhetoric otherwise, is to bury information like pirates burying treasure. 

UT System releases tax returns

The UT System's assertion that the tax records were not public apparently didn't sit well with Gov. Rick Perry, whose spokeswoman said Friday that the governor "expects all state entities to fully comply with the law and be open and transparent with the public, press and lawmakers."

Related articles by Zemanta

• Texas Governor Perry's Moment of "Pants-on-Fire" (themoderatevoice.com)
• You: Rick Perry, Texas, and the Appeal of the Past (newsweek.com)
• Are Blogger's Allegations True? Did UT Southwestern and Parkland Commit a Crime? (reamy.typepad.com)
• Easy Enough to See Through UT's Claims of Transparency (reamy.typepad.com)
• More Allegations against UT Southwestern and Parkland (reamy.typepad.com)

Kaiser'$ Commute: An Unexpected Cost of Climate Change

You'll understand the title when you read the article.  Executive Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs Kenneth Shine has outdone himself. 

Very-long-distance commute questioned

Texas continues to pay for Kaiser's $2,500 a month housing expenses at the Inwood Manor Condominium plus his weekly commutes to Philadelphia. So far, those expenses have exceeded $113,000 and the meter continues to run.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Ut Paying for Uthsc Houston President's Commuting Costs From Pa (reamy.typepad.com)
• The Texas Connection: "UC could oversee prison health" - Los Angeles Times (reamy.typepad.com)
• Uthsc Houston Pres. Larry Kaiser's Ethics Report (reamy.typepad.com)

Victory Lakes: Galveston's Loss is League City's Gain

University of Texas Medical Branch administrators are steadily shifting the institution's effort toward the mainland and the land of milk and honey, where more affluent, insured patients live.  The article below says that "many" of the League City slots will go to people at other "island or mainland clinics."  I'd like to know what portion of that "many" will come from the island. One way as the other, League City will reap the economic benefits of the new Specialty Care Center.  I'm thinking it will reap the benefits of the new hospital tower, too, when the UT System and its regents get around to telling people where they really intend to build it.  UTMB bought 64 acres in League City, and around 60 acres are still unused, according to an article run by the Galveston County Daily News on April 11th.  Just as UTMB claimed it had no specific plans when it bought the land a couple of years back, Bonnie Benkula, the new associate VP of ambulatory care at Victory Lakes, said, "There are no specific plans at this point."  Right.

I think Galveston has given up on the tower, and in doing so, has given up on itself. 

Public invited to sneak peek at UTMB Victory Lakes

The center is creating 157 new jobs in the League City area, with an average salary of about $42,000, resulting in a $6,594,000 impact on the community job market. Many of these positions will be filled by UTMB employees from other island or mainland clinics.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Daily News Opinion Writer Waltzes with Gorilla (reamy.typepad.com)
• Ut Regents Still Undecided on New Utmb Hospital Tower (reamy.typepad.com)
• Utmb Public Affairs Explains Reasons for Joining Tmc (reamy.typepad.com)
• California Inmate Care: If It's Not Working in Texas. . . . (reamy.typepad.com)

Easy Enough to See Through UT's Claims of Transparency

Image via Wikipedia

It wasn't too long ago that the University of Texas System blocked me from having access to the account balances of its presidents' deferred compensation accounts, which cumulatively have to be worth millions (see Zemanta box below).  Now, UT administrators are blocking the Austin American-Statesman from seeing its IRS tax filings.  Truly, this "public" institution has forgotten that it is, indeed, a public institution.  Click on the highlighted text below to view the entire article from which the accompanying excerpt is taken:

UT System won't release tax returns

The system describes its online accountability report as "a national model" of conveying information to the public on everything from graduation rates to financial aid. And when Colleen McHugh was elected chairman of the system's Board of Regents last month, she immediately issued a statement reaffirming the board's "shared commitment to transparency and excellence."

But the UT System is opaque when it comes to the annual tax return it files with the Internal Revenue Service. The return lists income unrelated to the educational mission, such as leasing of university-owned property for retail stores, rental of halls for concerts and operation of certain recreational sports programs.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Texas Ag Denies Access to Ut Execs' Deferred Comp Balances (reamy.typepad.com)
• Ut Paying for Uthsc Houston President's Commuting Costs From Pa (reamy.typepad.com)
• Article Profiles New Ut Board Leader (reamy.typepad.com)

UC Puts the Brakes on NuPhysicia Plan--for Now

Image via Wikipedia

After the Union of American Physicians and Dentists questioned the wisdom of allowing a for-profit company with ties to the University of Texas Medical Branch, NuPhysicia, to act as a consultant, and after the UAPD questioned former UTMB president and current UC vice-president John Stobo's ties to the company, it seems that the University of California regents have slowed their headlong rush to embrace NuPhysicia's vision.  At least they're backing up and saying they'll form a committee to look at inmate care now. 

With all the cross-pollination between the University of Texas and University of California systems, events out California-way should interest us in Texas and vice versa.  Whatever happens in one state is very, very likely to happen in the other should administrators prove successful in any particular initiative. 

UC regents not eager to take on California's prison healthcare - Los Angeles Times

Reporting from San Francisco — University of California leaders made clear Thursday that they were not in a rush to embrace a controversial proposal for UC to provide healthcare for state prison inmates, with an emphasis on connecting doctors and patients remotely over the Internet.

Related articles by Zemanta

• UC Regents Say No Conflict of Interest between Stobo and NuPhysicia (reamy.typepad.com)
• Conflict of Interest? Stobo under the Microscope in California (reamy.typepad.com)
• The Texas Connection: "UC could oversee prison health" - Los Angeles Times (reamy.typepad.com)
• Former Utmb Pres. Stobo Defends Proposed Cuts to Inmate Care (reamy.typepad.com)
• Ut Regents Learning From Utmb Rif, Md Anderson Next? (reamy.typepad.com)
• Indebted UC students: put down the soy lattes (trueslant.com)

UC Regents Say No Conflict of Interest between Stobo and NuPhysicia

It looks like the University of California, President Mark Yudof and Vice President John Stobo still haven't slacked off the full-court press to grab California's prison health care and the money that entails.  In the wake of concerns over Stobo's history with NuPhysicia, the company that stands to gain from the study it conducted and which UC is touting now, Coach Yudof did, however, pull Stobo from the game before he had to face some concerned health care providers at a UC board meeting as a press release from the Union of American Physicians and Dentists reveals. An excerpt:

The California Department of Personnel Administration (DPA) is circulating a report, written by Texas-based telemedicine firm NuPhysicia, that recommends transferring responsibility for California prisoner medical care to the University of California.  The plan also proposes drastic cuts to number of hands-on providers within the prisons and a heavy reliance on the types of telemedicine systems that NuPhysicia sells.  UC Vice President Dr. John Stobo was scheduled to present details of the NuPhysicia plan, but the Regents opted to postpone his presentation until the next meeting, citing a lack of time.

Yeah, "lack of time." Open the following file to view the whole release: Download UAPD Press Release re NuPhysicia 100325

Stobo's absence is notably absent from this San Francisco Examiner story: 

UC regents to study prison health care takeover | San Francisco Examiner

NuPhysicia grew out of the telemedicine programs at the University of Texas medical branch, where UC's senior vice president for health services, Dr. John Stobo, was president. Stobo was the non-executive founding chairman of NuPhysicia's board of directors, which has raised conflict-of-interest concerns.

The Board of Regents said Stobo never received money from NuPhysicia and cut all ties to the company when he left Texas in 2007.

Former UTMB President John Stobo may well have no financial ties to NuPhysicia as UC claims.  I think that the Union of American Physicians and Dentists has done well to get a declaration out of UC that Stobo has no financial ties to the for-profit company that stands to gain from the "study" it conducted.  That said, I think UAPD would do well to explore Stobo's ties with the University of Texas.  NuPhysicia is connected to UTMB, which, in turn, is connected to UT.  Stobo may not have any financial ties to UT now, either, but the California public needs to know that up front.  I tried to find out if Stobo, who left before he was vested, got his deferred compensation plan payoff.  UT blocked me via an appeal to the Texas attorney general (see Zemanta box below).  Maybe the UAPD will have better luck at exploring any remaining financial ties. 

Related articles by Zemanta

• UC Regents Discuss Diversity, Under Heavy Security (huffingtonpost.com)
• Ut Going After Uc Faculty (reamy.typepad.com)
• Conflict of Interest? Stobo under the Microscope in California (reamy.typepad.com)
• The Texas Connection: "UC could oversee prison health" - Los Angeles Times (reamy.typepad.com)
• Texas Ag Denies Access to Ut Execs' Deferred Comp Balances (reamy.typepad.com)