JACKSON, Miss. ( WJTV ) – A plan to address the ongoing healthcare crisis in the Mississippi Delta was pitched at the Mississippi State Capitol earlier this week.
The Delta Rural Health Authority would establish a collaborative healthcare system in the Delta. The plan would allow hospitals and healthcare facilities in the Delta to share resources to help provide care for residents living in one of the poorest areas in the country.
A nine to 12 member authority board would manage the collective. Five board members would be appointed by the governor, and the rest would be appointed by the Legislature and the communities involved.
A regional approach to fix the healthcare crisis in the Delta was talked about last Legislative session, but some Delta lawmakers are upset about how the process has gone this year.
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Rep. John Hines (D-District 50) said Delta lawmakers have been left out of the conversation.
“It seemed to be a idea that one group could get in front of and take control of the healthcare delivery system in the Mississippi Delta. The truth of the matter is, because of the shortage of providers, because of these shortage of services, a regional approach does seem to make sense. However, you got to make sure everybody’s come to the table. We just got to line it up. But the only way you line it up is having conversations with individuals who are stakeholders and who have been trying to provide services,” said Hines.