Skip to main content
Black Health logo Black Health
Acute Care

Merit Health Madison

161 River Oaks Drive, Canton, MS 39046 · (601) 855-4000

CMS rating

3/5

Overall hospital rating

Ownership

For-profit

Proprietary

CMS Provider #

250038

Source: CMS Hospital Compare

CMS Hospital Compare measure groups

Mortality

2

measures reported

Safety

3

measures reported

Readmission

6

measures reported

Patient experience

8

HCAHPS dimensions

Timely & effective

8

measures reported

Community health centers are primary care: they see patients regardless of insurance, charge on a sliding scale that is often $0, and can manage a condition like blood pressure or diabetes long-term. Our directory of free and charitable clinics lists centers by state. A same-day telehealth visit is self-pay and is not billed to Medicaid, so an ongoing clinic relationship usually costs less over a year. If you want a telehealth visit sooner:

Sesame Care

See a doctor online today.

Same-day video visits from $34

See a clinician today

Merit Health Madison in context

Merit Health Madison is an acute-care hospital in Canton, Mississippi, run as a for-profit hospital. Medicare certifies it under CMS Certification Number 250038, the number CMS uses for this hospital in its Care Compare files.

CMS Hospital Compare gives this facility an overall rating of 3 of 5 stars. Compared with the national rate: mortality, none of 2 measures better or worse; safety, none of 3 measures better or worse; readmission, none of 6 measures better or worse. The overall rating combines five groups of measures (mortality, safety of care, readmission, patient experience, and timely and effective care). CMS does not break it down by patient race.

In the CMS file, Merit Health Madison reports emergency services, which puts it under EMTALA, the federal law that requires it to screen anyone who comes to its emergency department and to stabilize an emergency condition whether or not the patient can pay.

Statewide context: Mississippi has the highest Black maternal mortality ratio in the country per CDC PMSS estimates. The University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson is the only academic medical center in the state and the primary referral site for complex obstetric cases. Mississippi has not adopted Medicaid expansion.

For Black patients

If you are a Black patient being seen at Merit Health Madison in Canton, Mississippi, a few concrete steps:

  • Bring someone with you. A partner, a relative, a friend or a doula can take notes, ask questions and speak up when you cannot. Under federal hospital rules (42 CFR 482.13(h)) you have the right to receive the visitors you choose, and the hospital must tell you about that right. It may restrict visits only for clinically necessary or reasonable reasons set out in its written policy, and never on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation or disability.
  • For ongoing primary care, our Mississippi provider directory lists Black clinicians who chose to be listed. Filter to your insurance first.
  • If the hospital doesn't take your coverage, the closest Federally Qualified Health Center is listed under our FQHCs in this area. FQHCs serve every patient on a sliding-fee scale regardless of insurance status.
  • For help paying for care, our Mississippi Medicaid guide explains eligibility, documents and how to apply.
  • If you are treated dismissively or your pain is ignored, file a grievance. Every Medicare-certified hospital must run a grievance process (42 CFR 482.13(a)(2)): it must tell you whom to contact, accept a written or verbal grievance, set time frames for reviewing it, and give you a written decision. Concerns about the quality of your care or a premature discharge can be referred to Medicare's Quality Improvement Organization.

After a hospital stay in Canton

If you or a family member will need care after discharge, these are the Medicare-certified providers in Canton, with the quality data CMS publishes for each one. Under federal rules (42 CFR 482.43(d)), when you are referred for home health or a skilled nursing stay, the hospital must give you a list of the Medicare-certified agencies and facilities available to you and tell you that the choice among them is yours.

Emergency department context

Merit Health Madison reports emergency services to CMS. If you're going to the ED, name your symptoms specifically and ask that the workup you want (EKG, troponin, imaging) be done or that the reason it was not be written in your chart. Bring a family member or friend to advocate.

Coverage + benefits in Mississippi

Hospitals that take part in hospital presumptive eligibility (42 CFR 435.1110) can start temporary Medicaid coverage on the spot from preliminary information while your full application is processed. Ask the financial counselor whether Merit Health Madison does, and ask about its financial assistance (charity care) policy. Anyone enrolled in Medicaid is automatically income-eligible for WIC under federal adjunctive eligibility (7 CFR 246.7).

Frequently asked questions

What is the CMS rating of Merit Health Madison?

Merit Health Madison has a CMS overall hospital rating of 3 out of 5 stars. CMS Hospital Compare combines mortality, safety, readmissions, patient experience, and timely-effective-care measures into this single rating.

What kind of hospital is Merit Health Madison?

Merit Health Madison is a for-profit hospital.

Does Merit Health Madison have an emergency room or labor and delivery?

In the CMS Hospital General Information file, Merit Health Madison reports emergency services.

Where is Merit Health Madison located?

Merit Health Madison is at 161 River Oaks Drive, Canton, MS, 39046. Phone: (601) 855-4000.

References & primary sources

CMS Hospital General Information file dated