Nashville (Tenn.) General Hospital officials requested $46.6 million from Tennessee for operations in the upcoming fiscal year — a request met with unwavering support from Nashville's newly appointed Mayor, David Briley, according to The Tennessean.
Mr. Briley's support comes as a huge relief for the city's public safety net hospital, which was slated to cease inpatient care by the end of fiscal year 2018 under the former mayor's administration.
In November, former Nashville Mayor Megan Barry, citing skyrocketing costs and competition, announced the decision to end inpatient care at the safety-net facility — drawing substantial community backlash. However, Ms. Barry resigned as mayor March 6 after admitting to felony theft for using city dollars to fund personal vacations with her head of security, with whom she was having an affair.
Mr. Briley, who was appointed after Ms. Barry's scandal, said he disagreed with the former Mayor's decision to transition the facility to an ambulatory care center.
"Our city has a very long commitment to providing a safety net for healthcare in the community," Mr. Briley said during a budget hearing. "That will not change this year."
The hospital's $46.6 million request is less than the hospital received the previous fiscal year.