HERMANN — For the administration team at Hermann Area District Hospital, it’s the color — not the size — of the bottom-line number that’s important on the preliminary budget for the coming year.

The hospital’s Board of Directors Monday night received an early set of numbers that shows the healthcare facility finishing 2025 in the black — albeit by a slight amount. As outlined during the board’s regular monthly session, the administration team forecast modest growth throughout the budget in both revenue and expenses in the coming year.

The bottom line: Preliminary figures show HADH ending with a positive balance of $8,974. A more-detailed set of numbers should be ready for consideration at the board’s December meeting, according to Administrator Bill Hellebusch. As for revenues, the administration is forecasting a 3-percent growth with a couple areas — outpatient revenue and swing-bed revenue — projected at 6-percent growth.

The budget shows projected total operating revenue of $19,479,705 in 2025. Total operating expenses amount to $21,022,698, which makes for a net operating loss of $1,542,992. But hospital officials are looking at several other non-operating revenue sources to make up that deficit.

For instance, the district’s property tax is projected to generate $1,643,966; bequeaths and Foundation funding of $300,000 and interest expense of $450,000. The total non-operating revenue is pegged at $1,551,966, which applied to the net operating loss produces the $8,974 balance.

If that projected year-end figure holds up, it would be a significant departure from this year’s projected deficit of $952,563.

In actual terms, the year-to-date standing (as of Oct. 24) shows a deficit of $793,802. The budget for 2024 called for a positive year-end balance of $1,461.

In other matters, HADH officials are pointing out that residents with Anthem insurance still can receive services at the hospital after Jan. 1. That’s the date when Anthem no longer will be accepted by Mercy Hospital, which has been in a dispute with the insurance company for some time about payment rates that Mercy hospitals receive compared to the rates of other healthcare providers in the Metro St. Louis region. Hellebusch told the board that he had been approached by what he called a “community leader” who was asking about rumor that Anthem would not be accepted after the start of the year at HADH because of a misunderstanding that this hospital is part of the Mercy network.

Hellebusch said he explained that’s not the case; HADH has a management agreement with Mercy. The local hospital is not part of the Mercy group of facilities.

Dr. Michael Rothermich, chief of the medical staff, emphasized the continued acceptance of Anthem-covered patients at the local hospital.

“They can’t go to Mercy after Jan. 1, but they can come here,” he said.

Hellebusch pointed out that Anthem has returned to talks with Mercy officials about continued treatment of Anthem-covered patients.

Meanwhile, a shortage of providers is leading HADH officials to pause the Saturday hours of operation at Southwest Medical Associates Clinic in Bavarian Plaza. The effort to bolster the staffing at SMA continues, but until another provider is hired, administration officials feel it’s appropriate to stop having Saturday hours.

“It’s going to give them a little breathing room,” said Ellen Schaumberg, director of clinic operations, of the clinic staff. “It’s not going to be so burdensome on their home life.”

Regarding SMA, Hellebusch said he is talking with two licensed clinical social workers who are leaving the clinic for other positions. One is scheduled to become the social worker of the Gasconade County R-1 School District; the other is leaving the clinic to open her own practice in Washington.

Hellebusch said he is talking with both of them about remaining available through what’s referred to as a “PRN” role. That’s short for the Latin phrase “Pro Ro Nada,” which translates roughly into “as the situation demands.” In other words, not on staff but available to fill an unexpected vacancy.

The two social workers provided counseling services at SMA, which now has a lone counselor on staff. Hellebusch said he has talked with “at least one pretty promising candidate” for a counselor’s position at the clinic.