[Johnny Ryall]

Good news for the Regional Medical Center of Memphis which has proposed a $400 million bed tower. Although seeing reductions in some areas of specialty medicine over the years due to funding problems with state government & TennCare, the Med remains a state-of-the-art Level 1 Trauma Center, Burn Unit & Neo-Natal Unit.

The Med to get more funds from Mississippi
Memphis Business Journal

The state of Mississippi has finalized the Regional Medical Center at Memphis’ participation in its Medicaid supplemental payment program, a move that could increase funding The Med receives from the state by $3.8 million in 2010. The Med has been involved in the Mississippi Trauma System and the state’s Burn Fund, which is used for treating uninsured burn victims in the state. The Med sees nearly 3,000 people from Mississippi every year through its trauma center, burn and obstetrics departments. Mississippi’s Medicaid program currently is billed for uninsured patients The Med treats. The Mississippi funding also could help draw matching federal dollars to support The Med.

Last fall, the hospital announced it was facing a $32 million shortfall that, if not addressed, would result in The Med drastically reducing services. In January, Shelby County government approved a $10 million gift that would help fund the hospital. The Memphis City Council turned down a proposal to provide an additional $2 million shortly after the Shelby County proposal passed. However, earlier this week, the state of Tennessee approved a $20 million appropriation for The Med for this year only. Med officials also are working on a plan to obtain federal funding to help eliminate the shortfall.