COVID-19 Spikes in Certain States Spark Concerns for Vulnerable Rural Hospitals

The COVID-19 pandemic is starting to reach rural areas as cases in several states start to rise with economies reopening, according to a FierceHealthcare report.

With that rise sparks new concerns about the financial vulnerability of rural hospitals, which were already in a precarious position. Since the onset of the pandemic in March, another four rural hospitals have closed. Nearly half of rural hospitals were already operating at a loss.

“Our big concern is that we aren’t gonna have the rural hospitals around if and when these pockets hit the rural communities,” said Maggie Elewhany, vice president of government affairs and policy for the National Rural Health Association.

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