Miss. Can Pay The Med with Medicaid Funds

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Mississippi can use supplemental Medicaid payments to reimburse the Regional Medical Center at Memphis for the cost of treating Mississippi residents.

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius told U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen about the decision in a letter on Thursday.

As a regional trauma center on the border of three states, The Med receives many patients from Mississippi and Arkansas. It has been in financial distress for years.

The supplement Medicaid payments are for hospitals that serve disproportionate numbers of charity cases. Arkansas was approved to send some of its Medicaid money to The Med last May.

The Med's vice president for government relations, Letisha Towns, said figures for how much Mississippi will actually pay will be released Wednesday.