Sunday, December 21, 2014

Singing River Chronicles of Dec. 3: SR to liquidate pension plan.

Note: The problems at Singing River Health System (Jackson County) continue to mount. The Sun-Herald has been breaking stories about the troubled hospital system since November. It is important to start from the beginning so JJ is posting stories about this fiasco that start from several weeks ago so as to give readers the history of this story.

The Sun-Herald reported on December 3 that Singing River Health Systems CEO Kevin Holland informed employees in a letter that the organization will liquidate the pension fund in the near future:


The Singing River Health System froze the employee pension fund Saturday, according to a letter from CEO Kevin Holland to employees, and it will be "officially liquidated" in the coming months.

In the letter, Holland tells employees the organization is "facing unprecedented financial challenges" that must be addressed and the county-owned hospital system is losing $30 million a year.

In light of that, Holland tells employees the pension plan hundreds of them have been contributing to for years, some for decades, will be taken apart.....

The pension plan has 2,380 enrolled, according to the health system, more than 600 of whom are already retired. It had promised employees who qualified between 50 and 70 percent of their pay for life.

The health system is Jackson County's second-largest employer and Jackson County supervisors have called in the state Auditor's Office to review operations at the system. When Holland took over in March, he announced the health system was carrying $88 million in uncollectible debt, calling it operating income. Then in October, he told employees the pension plan was failing and acknowledged the system had quit funding it after 2009.

Holland told employees in Monday's letter, "Given the low percentage at which our pension plan is currently funded, we are acting now to ensure we have as much funds as possible … Rest of article.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

I hope those whom have been offended will file a class action lawsuit against the perpetrators. If not there should be criminal offenses, weighing negligence, liability, standards of care, and the responsible party(s) fiduciary relationship.

Anonymous said...

CEO Kevin Holland also told all of the employees of the SRHS via email that the pension plan was in great shape with no need for concern. This email was sent soon after he announce that ex-CEO Chris Anderson was booking $88+ million in bad debts as income even though Anderson knew these amounts were not collectable. What will be exposed going forward is conflicts of interest that will include trustees, attorneys and management. The biggest financial problem the system has is not indigent care but trying to support to many at the top and no bid crony contracts to relatives of those in control.

Anonymous said...

A subdivision of the state having private board meetings is the first problem.



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Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

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In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

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This is definitely a Beaver production.


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Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

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