Hospital closures and concerns about access to health care frequently appear as rural topics in the news. Shrinking populations in some rural communities and reimbursement rates from public insurance associated with older populations (Medicare, although this may be supplemented by private insurance) and relatively low incomes (Medicaid and lack of any insurance) create financial pressure for rural hospitals. A Sheps Center study noted that Texas ranked fifth nationally in the number of hospitals (15) at high risk of financial distress, which was most prevalent across the Midwest and… Read More →