Rep. Jodey Arrington (TX-19) stopped by W.J. Mangold Memorial Hospital in Lockney on June 27, 2023. The Plainview-native is pictured here (L-R) with Vince DiFranco (CEO), Andy Ford (Board Member), D’Lyn Morris (Board Member), Arrington, Emily Jaggers (Interim Chief Nursing Officer) and Brent Barker (Board Member).
LOCKNEY, TX – When traveling west of Lubbock or Plainview, only two critical access hospitals (CAH) are available to rural communities for at least 90 miles.
On Tuesday, the Chairman of the U.S. House Budget Committee, Rep. Jodey Arrington from Lubbock, visited W.J. Mangold Memorial Hospital, one of the two CAHs (the other is in Crosby County).
“The congressman asked me what our biggest challenge was as a hospital and healthcare system, and I indicated that being paid accurately for the service we provide by Medicare Advantage plans, and insurance companies was the biggest challenge,” explained Vince DiFranco, CEO of Mangold.
“I had been in discussion with Rep. Arrington’s office about a number of problems we were having with Medicare Advantage plan underpaying us on patient care we had provided and not following guidelines established by traditional Medicare.”
Arrington stopped at the hospital after a town hall meeting at Lockney High School.
“It is always beneficial to have a connection with the people that are elected to represent our community,” DiFranco added. “I appreciate him taking the time to listen to our challenges and the positive aspects of having a successful hospital in Floyd County.”
