Jackson County Board of Supervisors discuss Singing River Health System
The Singing River Board of Trustees voted on June 1st to put the hospital up for sale. Today, the board went in front of the Jackson County Board of Supervisors to present the resolution.
After hearing from retired and current employees at Singing River Health System, the Singing River Board, and concerned residents in Jackson County, the Jackson County Board of Supervisors motioned to take the resolution under advisement.
The boardroom was packed full of people interested to see if the coastal hospital will be put up for sale like the board of trustees initially voted on or will they decide to merge. Singing River Interim CEO Tiffany Murdock said, “We want to be proactive in any decision we make for the 4,000 healthcare workers that we have and for all of our pensioners and for the community. So, we don’t want to be in a reactionary moment.”
The hospital has around $25 million in Medicaid funding that has to be paid back because of a change in federal policy. Singing River receives millions in federal grants each year in a disproportionate share hospitals program, but in 2017 the program implemented a policy auditing payments. “They audit you on your financials three years later. So, if you become more efficient over those three years, they come back and audit a second time. If you are more efficient than they are going to recoup that money from you.”
Not only did the disproportionate share hospitals program affect the hospital, COVID hit, causing the hospital to write off millions in care expenses. “If there is another pandemic or another large wave or even a hurricane, that could take up supply and labor.”
Retirees of Singing River also took to the podium to talk about what would happen to the pension if the hospital does decide to sell. “That’s been my home. That hospital, I spent more hours there than I did at home.”
Judy Ladner retired from Singing River after 35 years of service and her husband, Daryl Lander, still works at the hospital and has been for 34 years. “We have vested 65 years in the pension plan and it’s very important to us that whether they sell or partner with another hospital that our pension plan is saved. Without it we won’t be able to live the life we live.”
