Rural Hospitals Get Poisoned Money From Congress

Rural hospitals have been struggling with many going bankrupt. Medicare rates are the same for rural hospitals as for hospitals in large cities which have larger scale to amortize costs, and a higher density of patients. Congress passed a Rural Emergency Hospital designation with higher payments but restrictioned inpatient services which are key to community trust and revenue. Staffing issues, increasing costs, and unsustainable revenues keep most rural hospitals on the brink of closure.