720 Rural Hospitals at Risk of Closure as Surgical Access Gaps Widen

A Center for Healthcare Quality and Payment Reform report finds that roughly one-third of rural hospitals — 720 facilities — face closure risk, raising questions about surgical access in underserved areas. As rural hospitals retreat from operating room services, the analysis highlights growing surgical care deserts. The report does not specify a timeline for closures but underscores ongoing financial instability in rural provider markets. For Medicaid managed care organizations with rural network obligations, this trend signals potential network adequacy challenges and increased need for alternative surgical access strategies.

Managed Care