Hospital crisis

U.S. Representative Bradley Byrne paid a visit to Atmore Community Hospital Tuesday, May 29, to meet with officials from hospitals throughout Southwest Alabama as well as local elected officials and community leaders to discuss the challenges facing Alabama's rural hospitals.

As many as 12 hospitals in Alabama have closed since 2011 and Alabama has the lowest Medicare reimbursement rate in the country, measured by the Medicare Wage Index.

The Medicare Wage Index measures the amount paid to hospitals for services provided to Medicare beneficiaries based on a national average payment amount, adjusted for two factors that affect hospitals' costs: the patient's condition and related treatment strategy and market conditions in the hospital's location.

"The way they compute reimbursement essentially hurts Alabama hospitals," said Byrne. "Alabama receives 20 percent less reimbursement than the national average. The equipment costs the same and the cost structure is the same. It's unfair and I think we should be doing the opposite of what we are doing."

Byrne addressed several issues, including the status of mental healthcare, Medicare and the opioid crisis, discussing present and future legislation that can affect the issues.

"I thought he did a good job, he was armed with information we needed to hear, especially the Medicare Wage Index," said Ruth Harrell, chairperson for the Escambia County (Ala.) Healthcare Authority. "Legislation needs to be put in place to get the wage index up and get the reimbursement up so we can get our hospitals paid. There are some programs in place that Byrne was well versed on. We appreciate all he is doing to improve reimbursement for hospitals."

Harrell, a retired nurse who has been in public healthcare for more than 50 years, said she is a strong supporter of keeping healthcare local when possible.

"We have two excellent hospitals in our county and if there is a test or procedure that can be done at our hospitals, I am asking the people to please consider supporting our local hospitals," said Harrell.

Byrne said the three most important aspects of keeping Alabama's rural hospitals open are the quick ease of access to high-quality healthcare, jobs and the difficulty of attracting new businesses when there is not local healthcare.

"These healthcare facilities provide good jobs, and when there are closures, there go the good jobs, which effects the local economy," said Byrne. "We are putting legislation in Congress to make changes. We've been working with the Alabama Hospital Association, the head of Medicaid and Medicare Services, and Senator Shelby has been great. We've been reaching out to other places, like Tennessee and Texas."

Chris Griffin, administrator of D.W. McMillan Memorial Hospital in Brewton, attended the meeting.

"I appreciate the attendance of our county commissioners and community members who are here to show support," said Griffin. "We hope bringing awareness to the crisis facing Alabama's rural healthcare will have an impact on hospitals and healthcare providers across the board."

Byrne said he felt the meeting promoted a good exchange of ideas and he firmly believes hospital closures are devastating to the communities they serve.