The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston would be restored to its pre-Hurricane Ike capacity of 550 patient beds under a $713 million recovery plan approved last week by UT regents.
The action reverses an earlier plan to shift all the hospital beds from Galveston to a mainland facility, closer to Houston. The regents had earlier eliminated 3,800 jobs at the facility, which is the largest employer on Galveston Island.
The $713 million would finance renovation of John Sealy Hospital, replacement of Jennie Sealy Hospital, renovation of the facility’s Level 1 trauma center, and repairs to a wing where state prisoners are treated.
The recovery effort calls for the Texas Legislature to provide about $350 million toward the rebuilding effort. Funds include $150 million as the state’s match for Federal Emergency Management Agency reimbursement, $150 million in additional capital support, and $54.5 million to cover operating losses related to Hurricane Ike, which severely damaged the medical school in September 2008.
Board chairman H. Scott Caven Jr. said helped is needed from several sectors.
“The board cannot accomplish the ultimate goal of sustaining UTMB’s future alone,” Caven said. “That said, we are confident a financially viable health care delivery system for the institution based on a robust and comprehensive business plan will be developed.”
Craven said the regents will ask the Legislature to cover the cost of treating uninsured and under-insured patients by approving one or more reliable sources of revenue to boost UTMB’s operating budget by $60 million to $100 million a year.
