How high can CEO pay go?

With national news about the questionably high compensation packages of healthcare executives in New York, Ohio, Oregon, and Maryland, among others, chief executives around the nation might be comparing their paychecks against others in the country.

The 2010 national average salary and bonus for a hospital CEO is $517,000 and $909,000 for a health system CEO, according to consulting firm Integrated Healthcare Strategies, reports Georgia Health News. However, recent reports have shown that many CEOs are making much more.

For example, high CEO pay is commonplace in the state of Georgia, according to the article. The following are the data of nine CEOs in the state:

Institution

CEO/President

Compensation

WellStar Health System

Reynold J. Jennings

$975,000 base salary

Archbold Medical Center

Ken Beverly

$6.2 million in fiscal 2009

Medical Center of Central Georgia

Donald Faulk

$1,003,412 in fiscal 2009

Columbus Regional Healthcare System

Larry Sanders

$2.2 million in fiscal 2010

Athens Regional Medical Center

Jack Drew

$1,185,902 in fiscal 2009

University Health (in Augusta)

Larry Read

$3.5 million in fiscal 2009

Phoebe Putney

Joel Wernick

$1.3 million in fiscal 2010

Floyd Medical Center

Kurt Stuenkel

$1.35 million in fiscal 2010

St. Joseph's/Candler

Paul Hinchey

$1,053,390 in fiscal 2010


Meanwhile, in Erie, Penn., the top heads are taking pay cuts with cost-cutting measures in the face of reduced payments.

For example, Saint Vincent Health Center former Chief Executive Angela Bontempo earned $701,775 in 2009-10 in salary and benefits, down from $944,575 in 2008-09, reports the Erie Times-News. Similarly, Corry Memorial Chief Executive Barb Nichols earned $157,093 in 2009-10, down from $182,885 in 2008-09.

For more information:
- read the Georgia Health News article
- read the Erie Times-News article

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