CAMDEN, AL – After 60 years in operation, John Paul Jones Hospital in Camden will be closing as an acute care hospital. The hospital plans to transition into an urgent care facility.  Congresswoman Terri A. Sewell (D-AL) releases the following statement:

“I am deeply disappointed and saddened by the news that John Paul Jones Hospital in Camden is scheduled to close after 60 years in operation. Many Wilcox County residents have contacted my office to share stories about the lifesaving care their family received at John Paul Jones. My constituents have a simple request which I believe all of us can understand: Save our hospital.”

“The staff at John Paul Jones should be commended for their years of service. They have provided incredible care to some of Alabama’s most underserved people, against incredible odds and with limited resources. While we are currently not operating in a stable health care environment and promises cannot be made, I will work tirelessly in the coming weeks to find a solution for John Paul Jones and continue fighting for other rural hospitals across Alabama.”

“The truth is that John Paul Jones Hospital is not the only hospital in our state that has been struggling to keep their doors open. As a matter of fact, 80 percent of rural hospital closures since 2010 have occurred in states that didn’t expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. If we do not work together to protect funding for Medicaid and Medicare and increase reimbursements for rural providers, more hospitals will close. In Congress, I have introduced bipartisan legislation to increase Alabama’s Medicare hospital reimbursements by changing a formula that privileges wealthy states over rural, low-income states like Alabama.”

“I call on every citizen and elected official in Alabama to fight to protect health care access for all. We cannot do this alone.”

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Rep. Terri A. Sewell (D-AL) is serving her fourth term representing Alabama’s 7th Congressional district. She sits on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and was recently appointed to the powerful House Ways and Means Committee. Sewell is a Chief Deputy Whip and serves on the prestigious Steering and Policy Committee of the Democratic Caucus. She is also a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, and serves as Vice Chair of the Congressional Voting Rights Caucus, and Vice Chair of Outreach for the New Democrat Coalition.