1. What is the purpose of the cash budget?
2. Read #2 on page 140 in your text. How did you determine the minimum level of cash reserves needed to pay operating costs of the facility without borrowing?
3. Explain your understanding of the importance of knowing how to intelligently discuss these issues with the facility's accountant(s). For example, why is it important for healthcare managers to gain knowledge of financing and accounting?
Page 140:
In Example 2 the Great Plains Medical facility had budgeted negative cash flow for the month of March of $30,000. In the full year cash budget, February had budgeted negative cash flow of $47,500 and April was negative $25,000. January, including insurance payments from care provided near the end of the prior year, was budgeted at break-even cash flow. All of the other months for the year were budgeted with positive cash flow. At the end of the calendar year on December 31, what is the minimum level of cash reserves necessary to pay operating costs of the facility without using borrowing?