Rural Hospitals Closed at Triple the Opening Rate Since 2001, Yale Data Shows
Rural hospitals accounted for all net hospital losses in the United States between 2001 and 2023, closing at more than three times the rate they opened, according to Yale University's Health Care Affordability Lab data. The data tracks both openings and closures during this 22-year period. Rural hospital closures disproportionately affect Medicaid beneficiaries who rely on these facilities for emergency care, obstetric services, and behavioral health treatment, often with limited alternative access points.
Rural hospital closures reduce Medicaid beneficiaries' access to emergency services, inpatient care, and specialty services, forcing managed care plans to expand networks across wider geographic areas and potentially increasing transportation costs for members.
Managed Care
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