The Mississippi State Medical Association says the current healthcare crisis in Mississippi has been quote "foreseeable for years," and hospitals in the state are experiencing economic strain that many cannot endure. The association issued an opinion this week, in which they listed ways that healthcare delivery in the state needs to change.
The opinion lists uncompensated care, COVID-19, and staffing shortages as reasons why many medical centers in the state have recently reduced services or closed entirely. Dr. John Cross is the president of the MSMA. He says one particular reason rural hospitals aren't fully-staffed is because they can't compete with bigger systems when it comes to hiring.
"Whether its... therapists, pharmacists, nurses, they're all getting drawn... to these larger metro hospitals," he said. "and sometimes... that's out of state, as well."
The association is suggesting changes they believe will lead to both short-term and long-term solutions. Some of these solutions include expanding medicaid, offsetting taxes that hospitals pay, and restructuring healthcare delivery across the state. Cross says that these suggestions will make healthcare more accessible to Mississippians of all economic backgrounds.
"There's no better time than now to make changes that can affect healthcare," he said. "and we look forward to working within the legislative session this year."
Cross says these and other topics are being actively lobbied and discussed at the capitol this week.
