Regency Hospital in Meridian to Close by March 13
Regency Hospital, a 40-bed facility in Meridian that specialized in respiratory care for medically complex patients, will close on or about March 13, its owner announced. The hospital is located on the second floor of Baptist Anderson Regional Medical Center-South.
Owned by Pennsylvania-based Select Medical, one of the largest operators of critical illness recovery hospitals in the country, the facility focused on weaning patients off mechanical ventilation and aiding breathing independence. The company cited business operations as the reason for the closure, and the hospital is no longer accepting new patients, said Shelly Eckenroth, Select Medical’s chief communications officer.
As of Monday, four patients remained at Regency Hospital. Eckenroth said their treatment would continue until discharge or transfer to other facilities. Case managers are working with families to arrange appropriate transitions, she added.
Ochsner Specialty Hospital, a nearby 49-bed long-term acute care hospital, will continue to serve the community, according to Eckenroth. Allen Tyra, CEO of Ochsner Rush Health, confirmed that operations at Ochsner Specialty Hospital remain unchanged and that the facility will continue to provide high-quality care.
Long-term acute care hospitals serve patients with inpatient stays exceeding 25 days, often after intensive or critical care. They offer services such as respiratory therapy, head trauma treatment, and pain management. Many patients are discharged to skilled nursing or long-term care facilities.
Mississippi has seven long-term acute care hospitals, including facilities in Batesville, Greenville, Gulfport, Jackson, and Meridian, according to the state Department of Health. Select Medical owns three of these hospitals, including Regency, and operates nearly 140 hospitals nationwide, along with about 2,000 outpatient clinics. The company reported $5.5 billion in revenue in 2025, up 5% from the previous year.
Recent changes to Medicare reimbursements and the rise in Medicare Advantage plans have affected hospital operations. A 2024 Senate report highlighted challenges faced by long-term acute care hospitals, including lower reimbursements and difficulties in caring for sicker patients. In Mississippi, Medicare Advantage coverage has more than doubled since 2019, further impacting hospital funding and operations.
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