PASCAGOULA, Miss. - The fate of Singing River Health System remains up in the air after the Jackson County Board of Supervisors received an update July 5 on the hospital group’s consultants' review of what’s best for its future. The team's study pointed out Mississippi has the second-worst overall health in the U.S., the highest poverty rate and a highly uninsured population. Another challenge is the health system being able to provide "quality healthcare in an economical manner,” advisor Jim Birdwell said told the board. SRHS is the county’s second-largest employer, and its largest facility (435 beds) is located in Pascagoula. “What do you do ... when you’re not operating anywhere near capacity,” Birdwell said. Between Medicare (51%) and Medicaid (11.6%), over 63% of the medical group’s revenue is federally funded, which makes the system "vulnerable to decisions outside" of its control, he said. SRHS’s operating performance has been declining since 2019. Board President Randy Bosarge warned that keeping SRHS running would cost taxpayers - tax them to keep it afloat or get another partner. The study group estimated SRHS's worth is between $220M-to-$300M. Another financial challenge will be the court-ordered settlement to the health system’s failed pension fund. The study group concluded with that the board pursue and "identify potential acquirers and the terms and conditions that they would commit to.” Supervisors took the study under advisement. It will reconvene Aug. 1. (Source: WLOX 07/05/22) Consultants advise county leaders to sell Singing River Health System (wlox.com)
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