VA Opens Clinic at General Hospital

The Department of Veterans Affairs opens a new clinic at Nashville’s General Hospital this week.

It’s the first time the VA has partnered with a public hospital and an historically black school anywhere in the country. Aside from making history, hospital officials hope the clinic will provide a new source of revenue.

Meharry Medical College doctors will staff the facility where some 6-thousand veterans are expected to receive outpatient care. College Dean Valerie Montgomery Rice says she hopes the partnership will be a foot in the door with VA patients.

“We’re negotiating with the VA for the ancillary services like radiology, X-ray procedures, etc, to be done here at Nashville General Hospital, bringing revenue into the hospital.”

General Hospital has struggled to balance its mix of patients. Less than a quarter have health insurance, meaning much of the care turns into bad debt. The city-funded hospital has also begun waiving co-pays and deductibles for Metro employees to entice those on the city’s health plan to use General Hospital.

General Hospital had a $3 million deficit through the midpoint of the fiscal year. It has laid off contract employees and reduced salaries to make up for the shortfall. Hospital CEO Reginald Coopwood says General has to increase its pool of insured patients in order to make do with a 10 percent cut in city funding for next year.