State pays hospital authority $200,000
By Diana Royal dianar@thetruecitizen.com

The Burke County Hospital Authority has finally received more than $200,000 from the state in unpaid Medicaid and PeachCare bills.

Following a rare meeting of the authority and the Burke County Board of Commissioners held in early March, hospital administrator Jennifer Royal received two promissory letters from the Georgia Department of Community Health, one declaring a payment of $197,519 for outpatient services rendered through Medicaid and another promising $4,455 for unpaid PeachCare services.

During the joint meeting, hospital authority members expressed concern over the hospital's cash flow as a result of providing care through these programs and told commissioners they may eventually need support from the county.

Commission chairman Jimmy Dixon assured the group that he would look into the state's two-year-old $200,000 plus debt to the county - and within two weeks, the Department of Community Health responded with the promise to pay up within 30 days.

Gerald Murray, who serves as chairman of the hospital authority, said he was very appreciative of Dixon's efforts.

"We thank him for making the calls and getting in touch with the right people to get the issue resolved," he said. "We got the money that was owed and never paid, which will help Burke Medical Center retain the services we are currently providing."

Murray's outlook on the future of the hospital remains positive despite the cash flow problems and rising debt attained through indigent care services. He expressed the authority's desire to continue to operate without using tax dollars and its hope to bring new services to Burke County.