News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Jamestown Regional Medical Center will operate on a day-to-day basis after receiving permission from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
That according to Fentress County Executive Jimmy Johnson.
“We have talked with corporate out of Miami, and they have instructed the hospital here in Jamestown that they will operate business as usual on a day-to-day basis,” Johnson said. “They have sent a check to the IRS and the CMS has given them authority to run on a day-to-day basis, evidently.”
State Representatives John Mark Windle, Kelly Keisling, and Senator Ken Yager withheld a joint statement after learning of Rennova’s payment.
Windle said the future of healthcare in Jamestown and Fentress County still remains unknown.
“[CMS] informed the owners of the hospital they have two choices: either do a voluntary shutdown, or CMS… and the federal government will shut down the hospital involuntarily at the close of business today,” Windle said. “It’s crippling for our economy. It’s crippling for the healthcare needs of our children and our senior citizens. It’s wrong and we need to do something to fix the problem.”
Florida-based Rennova purchased JRMC from Tennova Healthcare in 2017 with the transaction completed last year. Former Hospital CEO Lynette Evans stepped down from her position in February. Interim CEO Dr. Angel Giraldez has served in the position since Evans’ departure.
Calls to the hospital’s administrative staff have gone unanswered, although an employee at the hospital stated business was operating as usual. Officials at Rennova Health Systems have not responded to phone calls regarding the hospital’s financial status.
