Ballad Health

What it reported doing in 2024

Cardiovascular Associates was established in 1978 to provide comprehensive cardiovascular services to the Northeast Tennessee/Southwest Virginia region. In May 2010, Wellmont Cardiology Services (WCS) acquired substantially all of the assets of Cardiovascular Associates to become the region's largest provider of comprehensive cardiovascular services.This physician group provides top-quality cardiovascular services to Northeast Tennessee, Southwest Virginia, Southeast Kentucky and Northwest North Carolina, as well as areas of West Virginia.WCS strives to improve the cardiovascular health of the region and deliver high-quality, cost-effective heart and vascular care with compassion.WCS consists of 48 certified cardiologists and cardiovascular and thoracic surgeons who work in twelve community offices and the seven member hospitals of Wellmont Health System. WCS diagnoses, treats and manages all aspects of adult cardiovascular disease. Services provided include general cardiology, preventive cardiology, electrophysiology, interventional cardiology, vascular medicine, structural heart disease, heart failure management, cardiovascular and thoracic surgery and advanced cardiovascular imaging. WCS also serves as a leader in clinical research and also participates in training of medical students, residents and fellows. For fiscal year 2025, WCS had 161,141 outpatient encounters and performed 3,285 surgical procedures.WCS is dedicated to improving the community's access to quality, affordable healthcare, educating the region's caregivers, improving the health status of its communities, and contributing to the quality of life in the areas it serves.CHARITY AND OTHER UNREIMBURSED COSTS: CHARITY CARE: While reimbursement for healthcare services rendered is critical to the operation and sustainability of the organization, Wellmont Cardiology Services recognizes its obligation to provide care to individuals who cannot afford essential medical services, including emergency care. WCS accepts all patients regardless of their ability to pay. A patient is classified as a charity patient when they meet the established policies of Ballad Health and guidelines outlined by the federal government. However, financial assistance decisions are not solely based on income. Unique financial circumstances are weighed with verified patient assets which can determine financial assistance eligibility. It is not until after verification of income and assets that a decision regarding the amount of financial assistance can be made. In fiscal year 2025, WCS incurred a loss of $866,554 attributable to the provision of charity care.TENNCARE/MEDICAID/MEDICARE/CHAMPUS: WCS provides care to persons covered by governmental programs, such as TennCare (Tennessee residents), Medicaid, Medicare and Champus. WCS incurred a loss of $17,367,059 providing care to this population of patients during the year.It is WCS's obligation to support causes that improve the quality of life in the region. WCS sponsored or participated in educational, community-based programs on healthy lifestyles, risk factor identification, diagnostic and treatment options, including continuing education programs for physicians, nurses and allied health professionals. Such initiatives included:-Annual Cardiovascular Summit-Presentations to medical societies

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 93.4%; rating input score 93
• Program expense ratio: 95.7%; rating input score 96
• Fundraising efficiency: Limited

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 68th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 0 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 0
  • Compensation committee: Missing
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Missing
  • Board or committee approval: Missing
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: Limited
• Major donor itemization: Limited
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 0%; rating input score 0; 4th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 7 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 78
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Fail
  • Other executive compensation review process: Fail
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 2.4%; rating input score 45; 45th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.11; rating input score 3; 3rd percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 1.36; rating input score 3; 3rd percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 14.7%; rating input score 1; 1st percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 5.7% per year; rating input score 100; 46th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 9.3% per year; rating input score 100; 74th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 20% per year; rating input score 100; 93rd percentile among comparable filings