UAB Hospital Losing $70 Million Per Month Due To COVID Restrictions
UAB Hospital is taking a financial hit from COVID-19. Officials announced Friday a projected loss of $70 million per month due to reduced clinical visits, elective surgeries and hospital stays.
“To get ready for the COVID crisis and to take care of these patients, we had to significantly decrease our clinical activity,” said UAB Health System CEO Will Ferniany in a video statement. “During the first month, we had about 3,000 elective surgery visits canceled … almost 11,000 less patient days in our hospital, and about 85,000 fewer visits to our clinics.”
Ferniany said the health system is estimated to lose around $230 million by the end of the fiscal year on September 30. He said UAB has received about $30 million in federal stimulus money to help hospitals deal with the crisis, and will seek additional financial assistance through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). He said officials are minimizing expenses and have stopped all hiring and travel.
“To deal with this, and we have to deal with it so we can be ready to care for the people of Alabama in the future, we’re trying to re-open the hospital as quickly and safely as possible, to be here to treat the people that need our care,” Ferniany said.
UAB Hospital is the largest in Alabama. It has cared for 185 COVID-19 patients, roughly 25% of those who have been hospitalized for the virus statewide. UAB officials say the health system has been instrumental in helping Alabama fight the virus by expanding testing capacity, leading in research efforts and consulting with state leadership.
Democrat Taylor Rehmet wins a reliably Republican Texas state Senate seat, stunning GOP
Democrat Taylor Rehmet won a special election for the Texas state Senate on Saturday, flipping a reliably Republican district that President Donald Trump won by 17 points in 2024.
Trump says feds won’t intervene during protests in Democratic-led cities unless asked to do so
President Donald Trump said Saturday that he has instructed Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem not to intervene in protests occurring in cities led by Democrats unless local authorities ask for federal help.
U.S. intervention in Venezuela divides Houston
In nearly two dozen interviews, Houstonians expressed everything from admiration and relief to skepticism and dread following the seizure of leader Nicolás Maduro.
Anti-ICE protesters call for national action against federal immigration tactics
Hundreds of groups hold protests against federal immigration operations, calling for an end to ICE surge. Demonstrators challenge Minneapolis-based retailer Target.
Mine collapses in eastern Congo, leaving at least 200 dead
The collapse happened Wednesday due to heavy rains at the rebel-controlled Rubaya mines. Congo is a major supplier of coltan, which contains a key component in the production of smartphones.
Don Lemon and Georgia Fort vow to continue reporting following arrests tied to anti-ICE protest
The two independent journalists face federal charges related to the interruption of a church service in Minnesota earlier this month. Lemon and Fort say they were there to cover a protest.
