One of the bigger hospitals in the state needs to cut millions of dollars from its budget in order to stay afloat. The financial struggles of Athens Regional Medical Center are much like other health care facilities across Georgia trying to hang-on.
Officials with Athens Regional are considering all options in trying to reduce costs, but yet spur new revenue. The Athens Banner-Herald says the hospital needs to cut $14-million from its budget, and layoffs may have to be part of the plan. The hospital employs 2,500 people full-time, with another 500 part-time.
The weak economy has affected hospitals and health care centers everywhere in Georgia, whether in large urban, or small rural areas.
Kevin Bloye is with the Georgia Hospital Association, which represents 170 hospitals and health care systems:
Officials with Athens Regional are considering all options in trying to reduce costs, but yet spur new revenue. The Athens Banner-Herald says the hospital needs to cut $14-million from its budget, and layoffs may have to be part of the plan. The hospital employs 2,500 people full-time, with another 500 part-time.
The weak economy has affected hospitals and health care centers everywhere in Georgia, whether in large urban, or small rural areas.
Kevin Bloye is with the Georgia Hospital Association, which represents 170 hospitals and health care systems:
"We did a survey among our membership the first part of the year and we found three out of four hospitals in the state are experiencing pretty severe increases in bad debt and charity care since October of '08."
A spike in un-insured patients, and dramatic fall in money-generators like elective procedures are part of the equation.
Bloye says federal stimulus dollars in the state budget propping-up Medicaid is helping.
