During a recent government meeting, Council Member May emphasized the urgent need for a comprehensive statewide plan to address hospital bed shortages and the reimbursement system affecting healthcare facilities in Montgomery County. May highlighted that the current system requires hospitals to navigate two separate processes to gain permission for building beds and receiving reimbursement for patient care, which has led to significant inefficiencies.

She pointed out that local hospitals, such as White Oak Adventist, are unable to utilize their available beds effectively due to reimbursement limitations. For instance, despite having a designated number of beds, the hospital is not compensated for their actual usage, resulting in ambulances being diverted to other facilities while local resources remain underutilized.

May also noted the challenges faced by White Oak Adventist in performing high-demand cardiac procedures, which are financially burdensome due to reimbursement caps. She urged her colleagues to advocate for changes that would allow hospitals to serve their communities better and ensure that patients receive care at the facilities best equipped to meet their needs.

In a separate discussion, Council Member Katz acknowledged the ongoing efforts to address public safety concerns, particularly regarding speeding violations in Montgomery County. He referenced a recent report indicating that 233 individuals were caught driving significantly over the speed limit, with many incidents occurring on Georgia Avenue. Katz expressed the need for collaborative efforts to enhance safety measures.

Additionally, Katz commended Council Member Fannie Gonzalez for her work on legislation related to fentanyl cases, underscoring the importance of community safety initiatives. The meeting concluded with a call for clarity on capital project requests and a commitment to continued collaboration among council members and local government entities.