Lots happening this week, much of which was lost in the pre-election madness.
From Becker’s, a list of the 16 rural hospitals that shut their doors this year; over the last decade 133 have closed. Most are in the South.
States that didn’t expand Medicaid figure prominently, accounting for 12 of the 16 closures. More than two dozen hospitals in Kentucky are at risk; the state’s decision to expand Medicaid took effect in June of this year, but the years of financial hardship will prove to be too much of a burden for some.
Expect more closures in the coming months.
One small contributor; now that PPE manufacturing is moving stateside, facilities’ costs will increase. That adds another straw to the camel’s back.
What does this mean for you?
Longer drives to get care if you live in a rural area, and hospitals looking everywhere for revenue to make up for losses.
