News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Cumberland River hospital supporters will speak to Senator Marsha Blackburn Monday about using a federal COVID program to help with reopening the facility.
Owner Johnny Presley said the feds created a rural emergency hospital designation during COVID. He said any hospital open as of December 27th, 2020 would be eligible for reimbursements and quarterly incentivized bonuses.
Despite Cumberland River Hospital closing in December 2019, he believes the option could be the solution they need.
“You know it’s worth a chance,” Presley said. “This is a huge game-changer for rural hospitals or facilities that have 50 beds or less.”
Presley said he is also working with politicians in Georgia to push for the same amendment.
Collins said that another hypothetical option was suggested by Commissioner Bryan Coons. Collins said the county could potentially give funding to the city directly to buy the hospital and become the owner.
“We originally didn’t want to own it and basically the reason was so that people who didn’t know how to run a hospital would run it and bankrupt it,” Collins said. “(…) But somebody like Johnny Presley, yeah that’s what you want. So I think the position of the city and the county is that we didn’t have the expertise. But if it works out with the county and gives the city funding to purchase and the city could find investors maybe through the community or maybe Boa Vida, it would be a good sell to any legislator.”
Presley said there is probably one last chance to reopen the hospital. He said if it reopens and closes again, he predicts it will never open again.
