Health care systems seek federal relief for coronavirus costs

Atlanta-area hospitals say they need more help from the federal government to stay financially healthy amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Emory Healthcare CEO Jonathan Lewin, speaking at a roundtable, said his system has totaled $15 million in charges for uninsured COVID-19 care while seeing only “a little bit” of reimbursement.

“Anything we can get is important because the financial burden, especially in hot spots, has been really tremendous on health care systems and hospitals,” Lewin told those at the event, including U.S. Sen. Kelly Loeffler and Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Seema Verma.

Meanwhile, COVID-19 has already hastened the death of Randolph County’s only hospital.

The Southwest Georgia Regional Medical Center in Cuthbert announced that its years of financial struggle will end when it closes its doors in 90 days.

“Even last week, we were trying to save the hospital,‘‘ Cuthbert Mayor Steve Whatley told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “But we were so devastated from March to May. We’re bleeding.”

At one point in April, Randolph County — with a population of 7,700 or so — had the highest rate of infections among Georgia’s 159 counties.

The medical center will continue to operate its family medicine clinic, which will provide services such as physical therapy and radiology. It also will keep open its Joe-Anne Burgin Nursing Home, where 17 residents have died from COVID-19.

The next-nearest hospital is 30 miles away.