Rep. Bill Werkheiser Introduces Bill to Allow Rural Hospitals to Work Together to Negotiate Contracts

ATLANTA - State Representative Bill Werkheiser (R-Glennville), chairman of the House Industry and Labor Committee, recently introduced House Bill 1393, which would allow rural hospitals to collaborate with other rural hospitals to negotiate contracts, such as purchasing contracts, staffing arrangements, negotiating reimbursement rates and more.

"I'm extremely proud of what the Georgia General Assembly has done to address the recruitment of medical professionals to rural areas," said Rep. Werkheiser. "The House has led on many areas, such as increasing resident slots and creative collaboration with organizations like Mercer and CHOA, but we've got to keep thinking outside the box to find additional solutions to support our rural hospitals."

Rep. Werkheiser highlights that he recently traveled more than 300 miles in two days, going to nine rural hospitals to see firsthand and hear from leaders about the issues they are facing. Rep. Werkheiser traveled with HomeTown Health's CEO, Jimmy Lewis, who founded the company almost 30 years ago and has more than 70 member hospitals throughout the Southeast.

Rep. Werkheiser also spoke to approximately 100 hospital CEOs and leaders during the recent Rural Hospital Day at the State Capitol.

"Having a speaker, appropriations chair and so many folks in leadership from rural Georgia gives me a lot of confidence in pursuing this legislation," Rep. Werkheiser said in his address to these hospital leaders. "They know how vital it is to their communities that these hospitals not only survive but also thrive."

Rep. Werkheiser states that when Jimmy Lewis introduced him at the Capitol on Rural Hospital Day, Lewis said that Chairman Werkheiser has a deep and unique understanding of the complex issues that hospitals in rural Georgia face and is excited about the prospects of how this transformational legislation could keep more hospitals from closing their doors.

Rep. Werkheiser serves on the board of directors for Evans Memorial Hospital in Claxton, Georgia, which allows him to see the challenges that these rural hospitals face each month regarding difficult payer mixes, limited-service lines and staffing shortages.

HB 1393, which was cosigned by several other representatives who have rural hospitals in their districts, would allow rural hospitals to join together to allow further purchasing power with third-party payors while retaining their independence.

"I am acutely aware of how much support you've got to have to get a bill through the process," added Rep. Werkheiser. "I've already had so many individuals and organizations reach out to help get this over the finish line. As with any legislation, it will take advocacy from every sector of the healthcare industry."

The full text of HB 1393 may be found here.

Representative Bill Werkheiser represents the citizens of District 157, which includes Evans and Jeff Davis counties, as well as portions of Appling and Tattnall counties. He was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2014 and currently serves as Chairman of the Industry & Labor Committee. He also serves on the Appropriations, Appropriations Subcommittee on Public Safety, Energy, Utilities & Telecommunications, Judiciary, Juvenile, Public Safety and Homeland Security and State Properties committees, as well as the Special Committee on Resource Management.

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