- Fast Facts:
- -Governor's Budget Includes No New Money For The Med
- - Shelby County Commissioner Calls The Budget Disgusting
- -Commissioner Ritz Says Federal Dollars Are Available
Bredesen said, "This is our family budget. Just like many Tennessee families we face some painful choices."
Some of those painful choices will make some Memphians feel as if they're not a part of the family. The governor says there will not be any extra funding for the already financially strapped Regional Medical Center also known as The Med.
Bredesen said, "But that's what families do, face up to their situation, be realistic, pick the best course of action and move ahead."
Shelby County lawmakers and administrators at The Med were hoping for an additional 22 million dollars for the hospital's operating budget.
Mike Ritz is a Shelby County Commissioner who's been a supporter of finding funding for The Med.
Ritz said, "Quite frankly the speech last night hurts The Med further because of the cuts in Tenncare. 60 million dollars a year in our patient care comes from Tennessee."
Ritz says says federal money is out there, if the governor asks for it. He said it could create 30 to 40 million dollars for The Med.
Ritz said, "One big option is the 10 million dollars the County Commission approved a week ago yesterday can be matched three-to-one or maybe four-to-one by the federal government, if the governor will ask. We're hoping he'll at least do that."
But for now the wait begins as to whether The Med will be left feeling like a family outsider all because of Bredesen's budget cuts.
Ritz said, "If we don't cure this cut in Tenncare we have another 30 or 40 million dollar problem and we can't solve that one. That's got to be fixed in another way."
Ritz says he and other commissioners hope to meet with several candidates for governor Wednesday to find out who will possibly be on board to support The Med when Bredesen leaves office.
