Attorney General Jim Hood speaks on rural healthcare access

SMITHVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – Mississippi Attorney General Jim hood spent time in Smithville earlier Thursday afternoon.

Hood says it was an opportunity for him to see the good things being done in communities in the area of healthcare.

He stopped by the town’s medical facility, Access Family Health Services.

The clinic treats everything from dental, overall care, and even has a pharmacy inside.

The AG says he wants to learn how Smithville is making a health clinic successful in a small community.

Hoods says the state has struggled to provide healthcare in rural areas.

“It’s odd that places like Houston, Mississippi, we don’t have an emergency room anymore and we had one when my granddaddy practiced in the 30’s, 40’s, and 50’s and it’s tough to see these rural communities not having as good of emergency health care as we use to have in the 40’s,” Hood explained.

Hood also tells WCBI he’s doing everything he can to get ready to possibly run for Governor.

He says will announce his decision this fall.