Executive Compensation at UnityPoint Health

Iowa Health System is also known as UnityPoint Health, one of the largest healthcare systems in the Iowa, although the organization also provides healthcare in Illinois and Wisconsin (hence, the name change using the word “unity”). Although the name change occurred in 2013, Iowa Health System still files a form 990 under the Iowa Health System name but notes that the organization is doing business as UnityPoint Health. This entity is the management arm of the organization.

There are 19 voting members of the governing party, 16 of whom are independent, although 21 board members are listed on the Form 990 (2020) which appears to be due to timing differences.  14 of the 21 (67%) are male while 7 (33%) are female.

Iowa Health System (IHS) operates 40 hospital/medical centers across Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin and hundreds of other healthcare provider locations that employ more than 30,000 employees.  IHS is actually dozens of non-profit organizations that work together and are managed by a tax-exempt non-profit  501 (c) (3) known as Iowa Health System dba UnityPointHealth (IHS UPH). This organization employs about 2,500 employees (about 8% of employees).

In 2020, IHS UPH reported total revenue of $440 million (compared to $403 million in 2019), most of which ($335 million) came from “member” organizations that contributed revenue for management/support services.  Expenses totaled $460 million (including $41 million in depreciation) with the two largest expenses reported to be compensation ($173 million) and fees for services ($139 million).

Fees for services consists of service maintenance contracts and miscellaneous purchased services.

2,538 employees received $173 million in compensation which equates to an average compensation of $68,000.  259 employees received more than $100,000 in compensation with the 34 most highly compensated in 2020 reported to be (note:  a “*” indicates all or part of the compensation was from a related/affiliated organization):

• $3,950,402:  Kevin Vermeer, President, CEO (until 4/20)
• $3,398,648: Susan Thompson, SVP, INT and OPT (until 420), Interim Pres/CEO (from 4/20)
• $1,525,665:  Art Nizza, EVP, COO
• $1,470,151:  Pamela Delagardelle, President/CEO-WAT*
• $1,387,520:  Denny Drake, SVP, Corporate Integrity, General Counsel
• $1,358,757:  Michelle Niermann, President/CEO-CR*
• $1,146,385:  Daniel Carpenter, SVP, CFO
• $1,124,212:  David Williams, CEO, IPCMF/Home* (to 4/20);  SVP, CH CLIN Off (from 5/20)
• $1,123,995:  Sabra Rosener, VP Government Relations
• $  992,270:  Richard Seidler, Former Pres/CEO, QC (to 5/19)*
• $  970,544:  David Stark, President/CEO-DSM*
• $  932,351:  Emily Porter, SVP, Talent and Marketing Comm Officer
• $  885,658:  Susan Erikson, President/CEO-WI*
• $  878,869:  Keith Knepp, President/CEO-PM*
• $  832,683:  John Sheehan, SVP, Chief Admin Officer
• $  697,248:  Laura Smith, VP, CIO
• $  696,920:  Leah Glasgo, Interim Pres/CEO-FD, Interim Pres/CEO-SD (from 11/20)*
• $  686,279:  Robert Erickson, President/CEO-QC*
• $  674,875:  Marcel Devetten, VP, Medical Director Clinical Leaders
• $  663,796:  Mark Johnson, VP Supply Chain Management
• $  650,552:  Theodore Townsend, Former Pres/CEO-CR, Pres/CEO-DUB (to12/18)*
• $  619,610:  Mary Osborn, VP Care Transformation
• $  607,332:  Renee Rasmussen, VP Revenue Cycle
• $  576,597:  Patricia Newland, VP, Medical Director-DSM, Interim Pres/CEO -IPCMF (from 6/20)*
• $  572,103:  Brian Jones, VP Payor Innovation
• $  566,162:  Kent Lehr, VP Strategy and Business Development
• $  546,842:  Wendy Mortimore, Chief Medical Info Officer
• $  473,472:  Kyle Christiason, Board Member*
• $  466,377:  Catherine Ranheim, Board Member*
• $  442,766:  Narendra Mansharamani, VP, Financial Operations
• $  442,069:  Debra King, Deputy General Counsel
• $  437,521:  Stanton Danielson, Board Member*
• $  390,148:  Matthew Kirschner, VP/Treasury
• $  383,760:  Aric Sharp, VP/ACO (to 2/19)

The 34 most highly compensated employees received $33 million in compensation in 2020.  19 of the 34 (56%) most highly compensated employees are male while 15 (44%) are female. 6 of the 10 most highly compensated employees are male while 2 are female.

The most highly compensated employee was Kevin Vermeer whose compensation over the past 5 years was reported to be:

• $3,950,402:  2020
• $2,620.699:  2019
• $1,726,908:  20018
• $2,167,959:  2017
• $2,053,155:  2016

IHS UPH paid for first class or charter travel and companion travel.  In addition, gross up payments and/or tax indemnification was provided. To read about these perks, and severance payments for former employees, go to the Form 990, Schedule J, Part III, Supplemental Information.

Information on the supplemental non-qualified retirement plan are summarized on the Form 990, Schedule J, Part III, Supplemental Information.

108 independent contractors received more than $100,000 in compensation with the 5 highest reported to be:

• $3.4 million:  Change Healthcare, of Nashville, TN for management services
• $1.6 million:  Crowe, LLP, of South Bend, Indiana for consulting services
• $1.4 million:  Deloitte Consulting, of Philadelphia, PA for consulting services
• $1.1 million:  KPMG of Montvale, NJ for audit services
• $1.1 million:  H & R Accounts, of Moline, IL for collection services

To read the IRS Form 990 (2020), click here.