Nearly a quarter of Mississippi residents rely on Medicaid for their health care needs, and many of them take comfort in the law that requires hospitals to provide emergency room care to anyone regardless of insurance status.
Hospitals, in turn, rely on reimbursements by Medicaid to cover the costs of caring for these patients.
But when the reimbursements don't match the costs, hospitals have to make up for it somewhere.
Two ways that this can be done are by raising the costs to patients who are insured and by cutting staff. Rush Health Systems, according to a statement made by company officials in October, may be taking the latter route and laying off an undisclosed number of employees sometime in the near future.
State Rep. Greg Snowden, R-Meridian, believes that the funding problem could be worked out if the Mississippi Hospital Association and Mississippi's Division of Medicaid would both be more willing to compromise as to reimbursement amounts. He believes that a lawsuit filed against Medicaid by the MHA and 43 Mississippi hospitals has created bad blood between the organizations.
"First and foremost," Snowden said, "we need the MHA and Medicaid to sit down and come up with a formula that will work for everyone."
Rush executive Donnie Smith said in an October television interview that the legislation could solve the problem by authorizing an increase in state Medicaid funds. Smith now refuses to comment on the issue, saying only, "I don't know how these rumors (about layoffs) got started."
Snowden believes the aim of MHA's lawsuit was to "prevent Medicaid from raising fees unilaterally so they could get the issue into the legislation." However, Snowden said, the Legislature put off the issue in the 2007 session.
Michael Bailey, chief financial officer of MHA, says that the lawsuit, which is over a tax increase on hospitals, is not related to the reimbursement issue, and that MHA is no longer part of the lawsuit anyway.
Bailey explains that Medicaid recently changed their reimbursement plan, and did not notify hospitals of the changes until after the hospitals had already made their budgets. Some hospitals actually saw an increase in Medicaid reimbursements, but others were left with holes in their budget, having made their financial plans based on reimbursements they had received in the previous fiscal year.
"Hospital administrators are a pretty ingenious breed of people," Bailey said, "but they can't plan on what they don't know about."
State Sen. Videt Carmichael, R-Meridian, hopes that a solution can be found without any new legislation being implemented, but says if the Legislature does have to get involved, he will be a part of it because of the large impact the issue has on Meridian.
"What we're hoping to see is something happen when we get back into our legislative session," he says, "but it will probably never be worked out to perfection ... It may not take legislation, but if it does that's something we'll have to really work on in the next session."
Riley Hospital declined to comment on how they have been affected by Medicaid changes, and Jeff Anderson Regional Medical Center issued the following statement: “Across the state hospitals rely heavily on Medicaid funding. We hope the Mississippi Legislature and the Governor will address this important issue in the 2008 session.”
Local News
Hospitals may face staff cuts
Lack of Medicaid reimbursements cited as reason for possible layoffs
- Local News
-
-
In memory of those who died
A 21-gun salute is a common part of any Memorial Day program.
But the release of 21 snow white doves representing the peace we enjoy today because of those who have fallen in battle was a rare treat of the Second Annual Memorial Day Program held Monday afternoon at Magnolia Cemetery in Meridian. -
Choctaw Expressions to be showcased
The Mississippi Craft Center will present Choctaw Expressions as the featured cultural and historical exhibit for the month of June.
The presentation will showcase the rich and unique heritage of the Mississippi Choctaw Indians with traditional cultural arts and artifacts. The exhibition is set to open to the public on Friday, June 1 at 10 a.m. The Mississippi Craft Center, located in Ridgeland, is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with free admission and will highlight this unique event through June 30. -
Earth’s Bounty Festival Saturday
Residents in the Meridian area will have the opportunity to purchase locally grown or made products throughout the summer and fall through the Earth’s Bounty festival.
The expanded version of the current farmer's market will take place on the first Saturday of every month from June-November at Singing Brakeman Park in Meridian near Union Station. -
WWI soldier’s family receives Purple Heart
About three weeks before the end of WW I, two young officers with the 320 Machine Gun Battalion crept through the battered moonscape of France on a mission to find new positions for their weapons.
-
Man dies of gunshot wound
Investigators with the Lauderdale County Sheriff's Department are investigating a shooting incident that occurred Saturday morning in which one person died.
- Marriages & Divorces: Sunday, May 27, 2012
-
Leading Edges uses technology to enhance advertising
If local advertising agency Leading Edges has its way, pretty soon you will be using your iPhone or iPad to bring its clients' ads to life.
-
Meridian soldier to receive posthumous Purple Heart
- Partnership in place for safety blitz
-
Keeping time with the Disabled American Veterans
When you are responsible for transporting area veterans to Jackson to meet their medical appointments, you better be on time.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Diplomatic Expulsions Follow Fresh Syria Report
15 Dead in Northern Italy's 5.8-magnitude Quake
Angry Birds Spreading Their Wings
Witness Describes Fla. Face-chewing Attack
Man Falls Off Crane, Dies After Police Standoff
Russia Condemns Ally Syria Over Massacre of 108
Dairy Farm Uses Chiropractor to Help Cows
Unexpected Smog in Pristine National Parks
Air Canada Plane Makes Emergency Landing
New Ticks Spread Across Southeast, Diseases Rise
Bring Your Own Tech Programs Charge Up Students
Pope's Butler Vows to Help Vatican Investigation
Mother of Allegedly Abused Girl Denies Claims
Raw Video: 19 Dead in Qatar Shopping Mall Fire
Service Dogs Help Wash. Soldiers Battling PTSD
Raw Video: Heckler Bursts in on Blair Testimony
Japan Farmers Plant, Seek Radiation-free Rice
