A handful of U.S. hospitals are facing a financial crisis that officials say was caused by the federal government's rules for pandemic relief money
A man walks through the lobby of Thomasville Regional Medical Center in Thomasville, Ala., on Tuesday, May 3, 2022. The hospital is among three in the nation that say they are missing out on federal pandemic relief money because they opened during or shortly before the COVID-19 crisis began. THOMASVILLE, Ala.
Employees are trying to save money by cutting back on supplies but residents including Judy Hutto are worried about the hospital's future. Hutto drove there recently for tests from her home 15 miles out in the country.CEO Barry Beus also is trying to plug a gap at Rock Regional Hospital, located south of Wichita in Derby, Kansas. The hospital is due as much as $15.
“HRSA has strived to provide as much support as possible to as many hospitals as possible within the limits of the law and funding,” he said. The agency said it used proxy financial information for hospitals that opened in 2019 or 2020 to create an equitable payment system.While virtually all the aid money is spoken for, Lundquist said hospitals seeking additional aid can go through an appeals process.
Located in southwest Alabama, Thomasville lies within an impoverished area called the Black Belt. About 70% of Black Belt residents qualify for Medicare or Medicaid, and health care has been limited for generations. “We thought we were off to a good start,” said James, the chief executive. “And then everything shut down.”