Franklin Advocate
Hyde-Smith visits FCMH after helping save facility
By Paul Keane, Franklin Advocate
Franklin County Memorial Hospital thanked and honored Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith for her efforts in making the Critical Care Access designation for the facility.
Hyde-Smith was able to introduced legislation into a recent appropriations bill that made the designation permanent. That designation from the Center for Medicaid and Medicare expired on Jan. 15 despite a year-long effort by local, state and federal officials to have the ruling overturned.
The bill was signed as part of a mini-omnibus package to keep the federal government open.
Stepping into the facility, Hyde-Smith was greeted by employees and Allied Health students from the Franklin County Career and Technical Center. As she walked in, the crowds lining the hallways cheered for her.
"I wanted our key employees and these high school Allied Health students who shadow our staff to be able to tell you thank you," said FCMH CEO Mike Boleware. He also recognized Kendall Moore, a member of Hyde-Smith's staff, for her tireless efforts in getting the language inserted into the bill.
Earlier in the day, during the groundbreaking for the entrance road to the Okhissa Lake Lodge, Hyde-Smith told the audience about the efforts to save the hospital.
"We had gone down every avenue to try and keep this hospital open," she said. "I was exhausted and red in the face, but we were not losing this battle over a dumb little rule that affected two hospitals — one in California and one in Franklin County, Mississippi.
"Told people that it was a dumb rule and I would just change the law. I wasn't sure if I could change the law or not but I was going to try."
The senator was able to attend the bill signing in the White House, but not without a small glitch.
"There was ice on streets and sidewalks of Washington that day, and I had already fallen once," she said. "I had gone home to Brookhaven and picked up some mud-grip boots and was wearing them on the day of the bill signing.
"I covered up my feet behind the Resolution Desk so that the press wouldn't make a big story out of what shoes I was wearing. I was just so honored to be able to talk about Franklin County and the hospital to the President."
It also took a lot of hard work from many people — along with an assist from a higher power — to make the change a reality.
"The chances of the language to keep that hospital open was slim," she said. "The chances of that language remaining in the bill were not 1 in 100, not 1 in 1,000 — it was 1 in 1 million.
"I've told everyone that it was only because of the praying people of Franklin County that the language remained in that bill."
Hyde-Smith reiterated the story for everyone at the hospital.
Boleware said the hospital not only provides jobs to the area but also helps local businesses and helps with the quality of life for the community.
Hyde-Smith — who paused to obviously say a short prayer for a patient who was being air flighted to another facility — said just the hospital itself is vital.
"When you have a motorcycle accident, you don't want to have to drive 30 miles," she said. "When your child spills bleach in their eyes, you don't want to have to drive 30 miles for treatment."
State Health Officer Dr. Daniel Edney said he found it a little unbelievable that the designation was being removed from the hospital, a move that nearly caused the closure of the facility.
"When I first heard that CMS was thinking about closing this hospital, I thought it was a joke," he said. "There was no way that could be happening. No way they were taking Critical Care Access from Franklin County Memorial Hospital — the only hospital in the state with a chronic vent program in Mississippi.
"This is a great rural hospital, and rural hospitals are the backbone of healthcare in Mississippi. This hospital takes care of the chronic vent needs for the entire state of Mississippi and even over into Louisiana. A lot of folks have been working and praying for you on your behalf."
Meadville Mayor Lane Reed presented Hyde-Smith with a key to the town, saying, "This hospital is an economic driver for our area and it means so much to our community."
Boleware also presented the senator with an "Honorary Employee of the Year" to the senator.