Lawmakers meet to save Cooper Green's inpatient care - ABC 33/40 - Birmingham News, Weather, Sports

Some Democratic members of Alabama's legislative delegation held a meeting Thursday to discuss ways to save the inpatient services at Cooper Green Mercy Hospital.

State Rep. John Rogers called the meeting. He says there is public outcry over the recent Jefferson County Commission's 3-to-2 vote to end the service within 30 days. Dozens of community activists and religious leaders attended the gathering, as well as other elected officials, including Jefferson County Commissioner George Bowman, State Rep. Patricia Todd and Birmingham City Councilors Jay Roberson and Maxine Parker.

Rogers led the meeting by saying, "It's time to fight now" and "we're all in this together." He contends that the ending the facility's inpatient care is the County's way of fixing its bankruptcy troubles. He also says, if the Commission does not reverse its action, he's willing to ask Governor Robert Bentley for a special session in the legislature, giving him the opportunity to propose a healthcare authority that would manage Cooper Green's finances.

At the end of the meeting, Rogers planned another meeting for city, county, and state elected officials to meet at the Medical Forum in downtown Birmingham at 4 p.m.