Rural hospitals across the country now in the financial red; futures uncertain - WPDE
ABC15
Half of America's rural hospitals are now operating in the financial red. According to a new report from healthcare consultancy Chartis, 50% of the nation's rural hospitals are now operating in the red. That number jumped from 43% last year.
"We've been seeing a steady increase in the percent of rural hospitals that are losing money any given year," said Mark Holmes, Director of the Sheps Center for Health Services Research at the University of North Carolina.
According to the report, not only are 50% of rural hospitals in the financial red, 418 are vulnerable to closing down.
To operate in the red means these hospitals are open and running while actively losing money. Holmes said one reason could be the changing way healthcare is now being delivered.