Wayne General Hospital to be part of federal RCHD program

Wayne General Hospital received some positive news last week when the 
facility learned it has been accepted into the highly competitive Rural 
Community Hospital Demonstration (RCHD) Program, a federal initiative 
designed to improve reimbursement and financial stability for rural 
hospitals across the nation.

U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith said she was a proud to have Wayne 
General, Greenwood Leflore Hospital and Magee General Hospital being 
chosen for the program.

"We've worked very hard for years to give these hospitals greater 
federal support to ensure that they stay open to serve rural 
Mississippians.  It hasn't been easy, but being part of the Rural 
Community Hospital Demonstration program will allow them to receive more 
beneficial reimbursements, which is important to keeping their doors 
open," said Hyde-Smith, who serves on the Senate appropriations 
subcommittee with jurisdiction over the Centers for Medicare and 
Medicaid Services (CMS).  "I am very pleased that Greenwood Leflore, 
Magee General, and Wayne General have an opportunity to be part of this 
program."

In early March, Hyde-Smith and Wicker sent a letter to CMS strongly 
supporting Greenwood Leflore's RCHD application, in which they argued 
why Greenwood Leflore deserved a spot within the program.  It 
concluded, "This program will have a tremendous impact on the health 
and well-being of the community and on the Mississippi Delta." 

Hyde-Smith also sent a letter in March in support of Magee General 
Hospital's application, and has long supported Wayne General 
Hospital's inclusion in the program as well.

Rural Community Hospital Demonstration program is to test the 
feasibility and advisability of cost-based reimbursement for small rural 
hospitals that are too large to be Critical Access Hospitals.  
Hyde-Smith and U.S. Senator Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) have criticized 
CMS refusal to fully utilize the budget-neutral RCHD program despite its 
proven efficacy for participating rural hospitals and qualifying 
facilities' interest in joining.

Wayne General Hospital was one of only 10 hospitals selected this year 
for the program.

"Several months were spent preparing and submitting the RCHD 
application, and this hard work has now paid off," said Wayne General 
CEO Dr. Andrew Porter. "More importantly, this success represents a 
broader strategic mindset of this administration — actively seeking 
out and obtaining additional sources of revenue while continuing to 
focus on exceptional patient care."

"The purpose of this project is to test cost-based reimbursement for 
inpatient services," said Wayne General CFO Clinton Eaves. "Wayne 
General now has the opportunity to be on the ground floor of what could 
become the next generation of reimbursement methodology for rural 
hospitals.

"As a participant, we expect that our Medicare reimbursement will 
increase, allowing us to continue enhancing the quality of services we 
provide to Waynesboro and the surrounding communities. In addition, this 
opportunity positions Wayne General to introduce new and innovative 
services to the area."

Porter said the program can only help grow and improve Wayne General 
Hospital as a whole.

"This is a generational opportunity," he said. "Participation in 
the RCHD Program allows Wayne General to build a stronger future, 
ensuring that high-quality healthcare remains accessible for the people 
of Southeast Mississippi."