The health system agreed to pay $156 million to settle lawsuits alleging it failed to make annual contributions to a retirement fund, and as part of that settlement three board members agreed to step down immediately, according to the report.
SRHS Board President Michael Heidelberg announced his resignation, along with the resignations of senior members Ira Polk and Tommy Leonard, in a letter to the press published by the SunHerald.
Larry Cosper, first year member Scott Taylor and newly-appointed members Jeffrey Belk and Don Barron will remain on the board. Steve Demetropoulos, MD, SRHS chief of staff, and John Weldon, MD, SRHS chief of staff elect, will remain on the board as non-voting members, the letter states.
“We do not agree that having the majority of the senior-experienced members of the Board of Trustees step down is in the best interest of the community; however, we are committed to do what we need to in order to expedite this settlement process,” Mr. Heidelberg states in the letter. He also notes the board hired a turnaround firm 18 months ago to improve the health system’s finances and resolve the pension lawsuits.
“We, as Board members, leave with heavy hearts but with our heads held high knowing that we have given our all in serving on the Singing River Health System Board of Trustees. We have worked tirelessly over the past 18 months to find a resolution for the pension issue and that resolution is finally at hand,” Mr. Heidelberg said in the letter.
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