NATCHEZ — A hearing to determine Natchez Regional Medical Center’s need for a long-term acute care hospital will reach into a third day today.

On Wednesday and Thursday, representatives from NRMC appeared before the Mississippi State Department of Health to argue their case.

Hospital board attorney Walter Brown said NRMC’s Dr. Kenneth Stubbs testified to the need for an LTACH facility in Natchez.

In addition, Brown presented letters from several area health care facility’s that also expressed a need for an LTACH at NRMC.

Brown said the Adams County Board of Supervisors also submitted a letter requesting the facility.

The hearing was prompted because Natchez Community Hospital’s CEO Tim Trottier said the area’s LTACH needs are already fulfilled by Promise Specialty Hospital in Ferriday.

Brown said he expects the hearing to be finished on today.

Adam Koob