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NATCHEZ – The CEO of Merit Health Natchez said a new coalition of state health care providers ultimately will improve the quality of health care in Mississippi.

The Mississippi Healthcare Collaborative, which launched on Monday, is a coalition focused on providing sustainable solutions to challenges facing access to healthcare throughout Mississippi. Its members include acute and trauma hospitals, rural hospitals, mental health providers and primary care providers.

“Our mission is clear: to create a healthier Mississippi,” said Kent Nicaud, President & CEO of Memorial Hospital in Gulfport, and chair of the collaborative’s board. “Members of the Collaborative represent an impressive 70% of patients in Mississippi. We believe that everyone in our state deserves access to high-quality healthcare, and we are dedicated to making that a reality.”

In a state where access to medical care is often limited, rural hospitals are closing, infant mortality rates are among the nation’s highest, and efforts to expand Medicaid and federal programs have fallen victim to the state politics, the coalition seeks to become an advocate for the needs of the people and the health care providers

“For too long, too many health providers have been siloed in our advocacy. It’s time to sit down at the same table and work together,” said Terrence Shirley, CEO of the Community Health Center Association of Mississippi (CHCAMS). The CHCAMS represents Mississippi’s 21 Federally Qualified Community Health Centers (FQHC), providing care through one million patient visits annually, at its approximately 300 sites, regardless of a patient’s ability to pay.

Merit Health, which operates hospitals and clinics throughout the state, is part of the coalition.

Kevin Samrow, CEO at  Merit Health Natchez, reiterated the importance of building this statewide coalition to advocate on behalf of the healthcare community and the people of Mississippi.

“Nearly half of all funding to hospitals is from state and federal sources. It is important that we work collaboratively and that Merit Health have a seat at the table for these critically important state health policy discussions,” he said. “This collaborative does just that. We look forward to working with our colleagues and state policy leaders to support the continued delivery of quality care for our patients.”

The diverse group of providers unites representatives from facilities offering state-of-the-art hospital-based procedures to those operating in rural clinics serving low-income communities. Founding members include Community Health Centers Association of Mississippi, Forrest Health System, George Regional Health System, Memorial Health Systems, Methodist Rehabilitation Center, Merit Health, Mississippi Rural Health Association, North Mississippi Health Services, Northwest Mississippi Regional Medical Center, Singing River Health System, South Central Regional Medical Center, Universal Health Services (Alliance Health Center, Brentwood Behavioral Health System, Diamond Grove Center for Children, Gulfport Behavioral Health System, Parkwood Behavioral Health System), and University of Mississippi Medical Center.

The Mississippi Hospital Association was previously the primary statewide organization that provided healthcare representation for hospitals, wellness and healthcare networks before lawmakers.

While still in existence under new leadership, MHA members began terminating their membership in Spring 2023 after it was revealed that the political action committee (PAC) tied to MHA, Friends of Mississippi Hospitals PAC, made a donation to the Democratic gubernatorial campaign of Brandon Presley in the amount of $250,000 while also strongly endorsing the notion of expanding Medicaid.

The Mississippi Healthcare Collaborative is committed to fostering meaningful partnerships among healthcare professionals, policymakers, and community stakeholders. The Collaborative aims to harness the power of data to identify critical health needs, drive evidence-based solutions, and advocate for financially sustainable policies that enhance the quality and accessibility of healthcare for all residents. Its members serve 78 of 82 counties.

Drew Snyder, former executive director of the Mississippi Division of Medicaid, will serve as Chief Health Policy Officer of the Mississippi Healthcare Collaborative. Snyder joins by way of Health Resources, a newly formed health-policy consulting wing of Capitol Resources.

For more information about the Mississippi Healthcare Collaborative, please visit www.mshealthcarecollaborative.com.