What is the West Volusia Hospital Authority?
It is a special taxing agency that collects a portion of property taxes from each property owner in West Volusia county and uses those funds to provide access to healthcare to low-income residents who live in our community and cannot otherwise access healthcare.
I, personally, see our taxpayer money not as an expense to myself & my family; although, it is, but as an investment back into our community and our most vulnerable residents. Did you know that 53% of the residents who have the WVHA card are our elderly citizens?
What makes our WV Hospital Authority unique and worth preserving?
There are two reasons why our Hospital Authority is unique and worth preserving. First, our board members who are responsible for transacting the business of WV Hospital Authority are elected by the people and held accountable by the people every re-election year, versus, appointed by one person, the Governor. The five members who serve on the board do so on a voluntary-basis and are not paid.
Secondly, only 34% of our taxpayer money spent on healthcare goes to Advent Health Hospital (both Fish, Orange City and DeLand). Advent Health is a non-profit organization that provides subsidized care to our indigent residents and receives a portion of money back from WV Hospital Authority for reimbursement for some of it’s costs. However, the remaining 66% of our healthcare dollars are used to fund local non-profits, such as:
Family Health Source (providing primary care and pre-natal OB/GYN services)
The Florida Department of Health (dental care)
House Next Door (mental health services)
Healthy Start Coalition of Flagler and Volusia (family services, prenatal care, postnatal care & outreach services)
Neighborhood Center (outreach services for access to healthcare)
This is just to name a few.
These non-profits serve as a valuable asset, as these are the organizations who are equipped to meet our most neediest people in the streets and connect them directly with the care they need the most. Compare this with the Halifax Hospital Authority in Northeast Volusia County, 100% of their taxpayer money is given to Halifax Hospital with limited oversight.
For a detailed list of non-profits and/or more information about West Volusia Hospital Authority visit their website at: https://westvolusiahospitalauthority.org/