Central Health will hold a public hearing Wednesday on its plan to hire an outside consultant to review the health district's financial and organization performance. The district's board of managers will take public comments during the hearing, which begins at 5 p.m. at 1111 E. Cesar Chavez St., Austin. Here are a few things to know: 1. Central Health announced the review in October. The district is expected to select an outside auditor who will look into Central Health's planning and budgeting, financial transparency and reporting as well as organization governance.

2. Travis County wants regular financial reviews of the district. In September, Travis County Commissioners Court approved Central Health’s $240 million fiscal year 2016-17 budget and tax rate amid concerns from some community members about the transparency of Central Health's budgeting process. The court also ordered Central Health to develop a proposal to allow for regular financial reviews. 3. Travis County has tightened control over Central Health's finances. Last month, Travis County commissioners voted to amend Central Health’s financial policies to require the district pay for an outside accountant hired by the county if the court finds Central Health’s financial information is not reliable or not provided in a timely manner or in accordance with state law. The court also called for Central Health to provide annual audits of its four affiliated nonprofits: Capital City Innovation Inc., CommUnityCare, Community Care Collaborative and Sendero Health Plans. 4. The increased scrutiny followed calls for an independent audit.

Several local health care advocates, including Austin lawyer Fred Lewis, have said an audit should be overseen by Travis County rather than the health district itself. County commissioners have not required Central Health to undergo an independent audit. Central Health's retiring President and CEO Patricia Young Brown has argued that the district's guiding statutes deem it as the appropriate agency to oversee such a review. 5. Those unable to attend Wednesday will be able to comment online. Central Health officials said the district will also collect public input through an online survey, which will be posted at www.centralhealth.net from Dec. 7-14.