Discussion on the Robert M. Coats Policy
UPDATED GUIDELINES EFFECTIVE NOVEMBER 13, 2009

Discussion centered around the possible unused historically won awards and future award usage time limits. Previous awards did not have a time limit on usage and there is not a good tool in place to track usage. Recently someone used their award won several years ago making it difficult to keep a tight budget.

Previous awards: a motion was made to publish a notice on the web page and in the Bama Chatter that states all past unused awards will be honored if used no later than the 2010 Annual in Nashville. The award winner must notify a Board member of their intention to use no later than May 2010 so the expense can be accrued for budget purposes. Motion approved by Board.

Future awards: a motion was made all future awards will come with a two (2) year usage time limit. Motion approved by Board. All future awards expense will be accrued by the Treasurer upon award presentation.

This process was reviewed and finalized by the Alabama Chapter Board members on November 13, 2009

Robert M. Coats Policy

Policy Number 8
Effective Date June 1, 2009
Revision Date November 13, 2009
Revision 2

Purpose
An annual award shall be made for outstanding individual contribution for betterment and growth of the Alabama Chapter, HFMA. All members of the Alabama Chapter, HFMA shall be eligible except elected officers. The period of achievement to be considered shall be from May 1 to April 30. The award shall be presented at the annual meeting and shall consist of the following:

Policy
The award shall be presented at the annual meeting and shall consist of the following:

1. The recipient will receive paid registration and lodging (limited to $2,000) to one HFMA sponsored event
2. The cash award must be used within a two year period from the date of the award
3. The recipient will receive a plaque relative to achievement.

The winner will be determined as follows:

Points

1. Attendance at Chapter’s Annual Institute 250
2. Attendance at Fall Meeting 200
3. Attendance at Dixie Meeting 100
4. Perfect attendance at Annual Institute, Fall and Dixie 100
5. Attainment of FHFMA (in year of attainment) 300
   (each year thereafter) 100
6. Chairman, Committee 300
7. Member, Committee 150
8. Participation in National HFMA role 100
9. Sponsor new member 25
   *Limit of 5

Robert M. Coats Biography
The origins of naming the Alabama Chapter’s Outstanding Member Award after Robert M. Coats began in 1951 when he joined Ernst & Ernst. His dedication to his profession, his firm and, later, his industry were already there. Bob was the only person not affiliated with a hospital at the first meeting of the Alabama Chapter-American Association of Hospital Accountants now known as HFMA.

Bob is credited with steering Ernst & Whinney into the healthcare field and being a pioneer in providing accounting and consulting expertise to the healthcare industry. He also made friends across the country and started or helped many careers in healthcare.

He served HFMA in many roles. He was chairman of the Uniform Accounting and Cost Reporting in connection with Third Party Cost Reimbursement Formulas project in 1962. The results of this project produced a cost reporting system that was one of the forerunners of the current cost reports and cost studies. He was awarded the William G. Follmer Award in 1969 and the Robert H. Reeves Award in 1974 in recognition of his active role in HFMA. He also earned the Muncie Gold Award in 1986. Prior to his winning, only eight Alabama Chapter members had received the Muncie Gold Award.

On October 31, 1986 the Alabama Chapter voted to name the Outstanding Member Award in his honor. Although he never received this award from the Alabama Chapter, nearly every recipient was influenced by Mr. Coats. Many of the recipients worked for him at Ernst & Whinney. Although he easily could have put himself into the position to be the outstanding member, he preferred instead to encourage and support others. That was the kind of man he was and why this award will be known as the Robert M. Coats Outstanding Member Award.