After several years and a plethora of different ideas, the Boone County Commission and the Boone Memorial Hospital Board of Directors seem to have the answer.

For at least five years, officials have been struggling with how to best provide for the future of the county hospital. Some have suggested

constructing a multi-bed extension of the facility with additional offices and other facilities, while a different group has suggested just adding an improved emergency room as well as an upgraded lab.

Months ago, commissioners

recommended that the BMH Board become a 501c3 non-profit corporation.

Officials have stated that such a conversion would allow the board to better secure funding for any improvements they might deem

necessary.

Hospital Administrator Tommy Mullins said the most important aspect of 501c3 status would be the ability to raise money through fundraisers and apply for financial aid from government agencies.

However, if the board decides to apply for this status, there are numerous letters that must be written and

advisories to be made to a number of agencies.

The hospital must apply for several new licenses from the federal

government in order to just administer drugs to patients.

Mullins said the hospital would be required to release a "public disclosure" every year. Mullins said his staff is still unsure what new requirements are

necessary from Medicare and Medicaid.

Mullins said that with 501c3 status the hospital would be forced to begin paying taxes on supplies, equipment and services.

The hospital currently is not required to pay such taxes and Mullins speculated the cost would be more than $300,000 per year. He also said numerous other licenses and authorizations would be required from the State of West Virginia.

He also believes BMH lab and X-Ray facilities would need to be rectified. Mullins said the hospital memberships with the West Virginia Hospital Association, American Hospital Association, Rural Health Association and others would need to be applied for yet again.

The Administrator also speculated that the hospital would likely be required to advise all of BMH’s lease holders, a new board of trustees must be formed and deeds would need to be revised.

BMH Board Member Bill Stone said the changes are needed.

"We need to grow this hospital," he said. "Money is coming in well at this time, but changing to 501c3 status will allow us to raise more money."

Mullins said that the change would likely be expensive, however. County Commissioners Athol Halstead, Mickey Brown and Eddie Hendricks asked Mullins to investigate the cost of the changeover and suggested that the county might well pay that cost, " in order to give this a kick-start," Halstead said.

"The Commission needs to know that the hospital can manage the costs of a renovation," Halstead told the board. Commissioner Brown made a motion at that time to provide the 501c3 costs to the hospital when they finally determine how much public funds it would require.