Ever wonder why the people in Natchez leave the area to receive medical treatment elsewhere?

The war between the two hospitals that is currently going on is a prime example.

Natchez Regional Medical Center decided to give county employees a big break on their medical costs, while the rest of the county residents — that do not work for the county yet pay the taxes so that the hospital can run — will not only foot the bill, but do not get the same benefit.

Then Natchez Community Hospital decided that it did not want to lose those customers, so they decided to follow suit, leaving out all the other major employers around such as the city employees, Dynasteel, CCA, etc…

As for NCH, their desire to cater to one group of people has isolated them from the rest of the community. As for NRMC, I believe our elected officials should step up and stop this or apply it to all county residents, as we pay the taxes to operate the hospital.

All we have heard in the news is that NRMC is going bankrupt. They cannot meet payroll so many people got laid off their jobs. For them to be able to cut co-pays like this, must mean that they are making money and everything else was a lie.

If NCH and NRMC want to play favorites, then I can easily drive to Jackson for any major surgeries, or basic procedures.

I encourage all residents that are getting stiffed by the deal that NRMC and NCH have made with county employees to seek medical care outside of Natchez.

See your doctor here, but for major medical events go elsewhere, except for a life and death situation, and in those cases, once stabilized transfer out of Natchez.

If NRMC wants to provide a benefit package as such, then it should be to all county residents as it is our taxes that keep it going.

Scott Frye

Natchez resident