Senate

St. Croix Hospital Coping with Financial Difficulties; Legislature Considers Funding Shifts

Leadership of the Juan F. Luis Hospital appeared before the 35th Legislature's Committee on Budget, Appropriations, and Finance on Friday to outline their budget request for fiscal year 2024, detailing significant financial challenges alongside plans for future growth. The proposed budget of $88 million, which is balanced and slightly increased from the current fiscal year, comes amidst ongoing court cases against high-profile debtors, staffing shortages, and unexpected costs from a recent move to JFL North, the temporary modular hospital. Despite these difficulties, the hospital reports a positive trajectory with growing revenue, a stabilized workforce, and strategies to further improve finances and services. Senators expressed their support, acknowledging the improvements at JFL, and discussed potential sources of increased funding. JFL CEO Douglas mentioned significant reduction in accounts payables over the past five years – from $54 million to $17.6 million – which he attributed...