Lawmakers React to Hospital Financial Losses
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JACKSON, Tenn. — State lawmakers speak up after being blamed for causing money trouble for one of West Tennessee‘s largest employers. The governor and general assembly did not approve federal funding for Medicaid, putting public hospitals like Jackson-Madison County General in a major bind. West Tennessee Healthcare confirms it is losing money. “It is heartbreaking to know that you know they’re going through challenging times, but you know a lot of hospitals throughout our state are facing challenges too,” State Rep. Jimmy Eldridge, R-Jackson said. Hospital officials blame financial losses on declining reimbursement and the lack of federal Medicaid coverage expansion, meaning the state of Tennessee is missing out on more than $6 million a day. State Senator Lowe Finney, D-Jackson, says he supports Medicaid expansion. “Many other states are taking our tax dollars to fund their health care programs,” Finney said. “I would prefer us get the benefit of our own tax dollars.” Eldridge says he has reservations. “There are some concerns out there, the cost of it,” he said. “Can we afford this or can we come up with a better plan and this is what Governor Haslam’s administration is trying to do.” WBBJ 7 Eyewitness News asked Finney why state lawmakers will not accept federal funding. “I think a lot of it’s probably political if you will,” said Finney. “I think it’s an election year and people don’t want to get caught up in some issues like that.” Eldridge and Finney both say they have not seen the governor‘s health care proposal. “He doesn’t want to see hospitals close doors, lay off employees, so they’re working pretty hard on trying to come up with a plan,” Eldridge said. “I wish he would call us back in, show us a plan, tell us what he expects, let us work something out and then pass a bill that strengthens his hand in all of this,” Finney said. The hospital says workforce reductions cannot be ruled out. West Tennessee Healthcare employees have had their accrual rate for paid time off cut in half and been offered voluntary early retirement for some long term employees.
