Senators Question $200,000 Dermatologist Hire Amid East End Medical Center’s Cost-Cutting and Revenue Gains

On Wednesday, the St. Thomas East End Medical Center Corporation was the second medical facility to ask the Committee on Budget, Appropriations, and Finance to approve more funding than what the Government of the Virgin Islands is willing to offer for FY2025.‌

According to STEEMCC’s interim executive director Dr. Tess Richards, an appropriate general fund allocation is $3.26 million, instead of the $2.1 million proposed by the GVI. The money would supplement grant funding for a total of $7,770,108.

“STEEMCC provides care for people with no money,” Dr. Richards said, a similar sentiment to that expressed by the Schneider Regional Medical Center, which defended its budget just minutes prior. “We very carefully aligned our budget request for 2025 to meet those needs,” the director said. “STEEMCC cannot continue our operations and continue to provide care for our at-risk population with the current GVI allotment.”‌

Dr. Richards believes that the increase is justified, as STEEMCC plans to “continue to be fiscally responsible,” instituting changes to both reduce spending and increase revenue. She testified that the Center’s staff has been trained to “operate like a business in order to improve the Center's financial position.” Balancing the budget, she said, is a critical part of functioning as a business. To this end, the interim executive director said STEEMCC has evaluated spending, policies and revenue collection. Dr. Richards was pleased to report that the Center has “cut monthly expenses by about $250,000 within the last 12 months.”