Rural hospitals spiral deeper into red ink amid COVID-19 pandemic

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

ABERDEEN, Wash. -- The coronavirus pandemic is now forcing hundreds of rural community hospitals to spiral further into the red.

A report from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid services shows up to 100 hospitals in rural areas could close within a year nationwide, and almost half of the counties with coronavirus cases are served by a hospital that reported a net loss in 2017. That list includes more than a dozen rural hospitals across Washington that are in most cases the only hospital in the county and often the largest employer in the area.

One of those hospitals feeling the financial strain is Grays Harbor Community Hospital in Aberdeen.

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The story in Aberdeen is playing out at rural hospitals all over state. Eleven rural hospitals in Washington were not profitable in 2017 and are now treating COVID-19 patients, according the CMM report.

https://www.seattlepi.com/local/komo/article/Rural-hospitals-spiral-deeper-into-red-ink-amid-15228538.php?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=dailynewsletterspi&utm_term=spi

[LisaM]

1. This is a huge problem, and not just in Grays County.

It's also a problem in San Juan County (not so much COVID-19, where they have very few cases, but the red ink). One of the problems is that Medicare reimbursement is not enough to cover costs there, where they have higher expenses because property values are high overall, but the reimbursement is based on a rural formula. It made me look at Medicare for All with a different lens, and is probably one of the reasons people like Warren took a step back.

I think this should be something that's emphasized in the campaign.