Cong. John Barrow visits local hospital
By Deborah Bennett Millen News Editor
of Jenkins County Hospital officials during a visit to the facility Wednesday, Feb. 21.

Congressman John Barrow toured Jenkins County Hospital Wednesday, Feb. 21, and met with hospital officials to discuss issues of concern. Shown during the meeting, are, from left, Jenkins County Commissioner Pam Dwight, Cong. Barrow, Jenkins County Board of Commissioners Chairman James Henry and Jenkins County Hospital Authority Chairman Edward Wilson. (Staff photo by Deborah Bennett)

During an informal meeting and tour of the facility, JCH Chief Executive Officer Pete Mills told the congressman that he felt the federal government had "no compassion in what's coming out of Washington" as he cited difficulties facing rural hospitals. He then explained how changes to the Medicare program conflicted with the basic funding formula for critical access hospitals such as JCH, noting that 70 percent of the facility's patients were Medicare recipients.

Cong. Barrow expressed concern and stated that he was not aware of the problem. He requested that the hospital provide him with documentation of the difficulties the facility was experiencing so that he could follow up on the matter.

"This is a very important turning point in this trip for me," Cong. Barrow noted.

Mills also expressed concern that Medicare and Medicaid recipients were being pushed into HMOs without realizing what was taking place.

"Things are not getting any easier," Cong. Barrow responded, noting that he was concerned about the politicization of the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), which did not help matters.