State Sen. Tonya Anderson
Living in a community means relying on others — whether that be a neighbor, a family member, or community leader. Luckily for everyone here in Georgia, our community safety nets include strong local hospitals and health systems. Our hospitals’ doors are open 24/7/365, ensuring that no Georgians are left behind, no matter how serious their health needs.
I believe that if you asked almost anyone across the state for a story of the lifesaving care hospitals provide, they will have something compelling to share. When critical care comes to mind, you think of hospitals straight away. But the incredible services that our health systems provide only start with their emergency departments. There are also unique specialized services such as NICUS, burn units and mental health facilities that are not offered by less capable kinds of facilities.
Hospitals are for anyone and everyone, and personally that is the kind of community I am proud to be a part of. Clearly, we need to make sure we support these community pillars that do so much to support us.
But in recent years, while hospitals have stayed focused on providing excellent care, the costs they must front to provide that care have skyrocketed — from rising prices to healthcare workforce shortages. And when corporate insurance providers refuse to cover treatments, or Medicare only reimburses a portion of true costs, then hospitals are left to foot an even larger share of the bill. While some health centers may be able to handle financial blow after financial blow, many hospitals are unable to. Too many hospitals are being forced to close their doors or cut valuable services. In all my years of working in public service here in the State Senate, I have never known of any industry that could sustain itself forever when forced into a financial hole. Simply put, if Medicare and corporate insurers continue to underpay our hospitals, patients’ access to care will be more and more directly impacted.
Unfortunately, Georgia is no stranger to this nationwide struggle. Our state has lost 12 hospitals in both metro and rural areas since 2013.As of April this year, 18 of our 30 remaining rural hospitals are at risk of closure. This vicious cycle continues: Patients lose lifesaving care access, are forced to find alternative options farther away or forgo medical care altogether, and then the burden on the remaining nearby hospitals grows heavier still. When hospitals close, the impact is devastating on our community. Patients lose critical access to care and healthcare workers lose their livelihood. Losing these backbones of our state puts the health and safety of our community at risk.
We must do more and do better to protect patients’ care access and keep our hospitals strong if we want healthy futures for every Georgian. As I continue to work for the betterment of Georgia and every resident, I call on my community and fellow lawmakers to stand beside America’s hospitals and strengthen them. The future of our state depends on it.
State Sen. Tonya Anderson. D-43, is a pastor and Georgia State Senator. She previously served in the Georgia House of Representatives from 2013 to 2015.
