Three physicians want to be appointed to the health care authority
From left, Dr. Adkinson, Dr. Nelson and Dr. Raulerson want seats on the board
Three Brewton physicians appeared before the Escambia County Commission Tuesday afternoon requesting all three be appointed to the Escambia County Health Care Authority, plus a physician, not named, from Atmore.
Dr. Jimmy Adkinson, Dr. Dan Raulerson and Dr. Robert Nelson addressed the commission during an administrative workshop.
Debbie Rowell, chairman of the healthcare authority also said there needs to be a more permanent stream of income for healthcare in the county.
On June 4, members of the healthcare authority addressed the commission during a workshop and told the board D.W. McMillan Memorial Hospital and Atmore Community Hospital were losing about $800,000 per year, noting between the two hospitals there is about a $3.5 million loss and it keeps growing.
Escambia County currently has a 4 mill ad valorem tax for the hospitals that generates about $1.8 million a year. Any additional property tax would have to be approved by the Alabama Legislature and then placed on a ballot for the citizens of the county to decide.
"We came with a concern," Dr. Adkinson said Tuesday.
He said the federal government, big insurance companies and Medicare are crushing medicine "and when you crush medicine, you crush hospitals.
Dr. Adkinson said the perfect storm, with the demise of trust funds, have made it very difficult, noting that 13 hospitals in Alabama have already closed.
"We are losing our physicians and we're in a critical shortage of physicians," Dr. Adkinson said. "If we don't have a hospital, we can't recruit doctors. We come with our heart in our hand."
Dr. Adkinson also pointed out that there are no physicians on the nine-member healthcare authority board.
"We ask today, to appoint a physician to the board," Dr. Adkinson said.
Dr. Adkinson said he was not there to criticize the authority, only to help the county.
Dr. Adkinson said between himself, Dr. Raulerson and Dr. Nelson, they have more than 100 years of medical experience.
Dr. Raulerson requested all three be appointed to the authority and also appoint a physician from Atmore.
Dr. Nelson said he came to Brewton 24 years ago and wants to do what he can to keep the hospitals operating.
"I don't think we can fight this alone," Dr. Nelson said. "Hundreds of hospitals are closing and more are on the brink."
Dr. Raulerson noted that decisions made by the healthcare authority affects everyone's lives.
"We have some very good lay people on the board," Dr. Raulerson said. "But they are not doctors."
Commissioner Karean Reynolds asked if typically across the state do healthcare authorities have physicians on the board. Dr. Adkinson said yes, but noted it has never been a priority.
Commission Chairman Raymond Wiggins said putting physicians on the authority board has never been brought up as long as he's served on the commission.
The healthcare authority is made up on nine members appointed by the commission. Each commissioner recommends someone from his district to five spots. The remaining four spots are at large.
Wiggins stated after the meeting that every two years the terms of three healthcare authority board members come up. Those positions can either be reappointed or replaced.
He noted on June 11, 2025, the terms of Jim Johnson, Bo Brantley and Sharon Davidson expire. He said three more will expire on June 11, 2027, and three more on June 11, 2029.
No action was taken Tuesday, but Wiggins said the commission would definitely look into it.
