Six of Mississippi's independent county-owned rural general medical/surgical hospitals are in "poor" financial health, while two are in "excellent" financial health, according to a state auditor's report.
For the report, state staff analyzed audited financial statements of 19 public rural hospitals and used the Financial Strength Index method developed by William Cleverley to evaluate the hospitals' financial health. The state said it determined fiscal year 2016 FSI scores, with the calculation comprising four components— total margin, days cash on hand, debt financing and accumulated depreciation.
The national median score is zero. Hospitals in "excellent" financial health have a score greater than three, hospitals in "good" financial health have a score of zero to three, hospitals in "fair" financial health have a score of negative two to zero, hospitals in "poor" financial health have a score lower than negative two.
The state auditor's report found 29 percent of the audited hospitals scored "poor" financial health in fiscal year 2016. They are:
- Franklin County Memorial Hospital (-6.18)
- Tippah County Hospital (-4.46)
- North Sunflower Medical Center (-4.35)
- Tallahatchie General Hospital (-3.34)
- Magnolia Regional Health Center (-2.32)
- Greenwood Leflore Hospital (-2.26)
Forty-one percent of audited hospitals scored "fair" financial health in fiscal year 2016. They are:
- George Regional Hospital (-0.08)
- Noxubee General Critical Access Hospital (NGCAH) with a score of (-0.40)
- Oktibbeha County Hospital Regional Medical Center (-0.91)
- South Sunflower County Hospital (-1.12)
- Covington County Hospital (-1.37)
- Southwest MS Regional Medical Center (-1.58)
- Wayne General Hospital (-1.93)
- Yalobusha General Hospital (-1.95)
Eighteen percent of audited hospitals scored "good" financial health in fiscal year 2016. They are:
- Delta Regional Medical Center (1.83)
- Tyler Holmes Memorial Hospital (0.37)
- South Central Regional Medical Center (0.19)
Twelve percent of audited hospitals scored "excellent" financial health in fiscal year 2016. They are:
- Jasper General Hospital (3.53)
- Neshoba County General Hospital (3.09)
Read the full auditor's report here.