More than half of Texas’ rural hospitals are at risk of closures, with much of the state’s population far from healthcare. “Recent data shows that 108 of these hospitals have cut or lost critical services. 87 people are at risk of closures and 22 face the threat of closing soon,” explains Madeline de Figuerid of Daily Yunder. Meanwhile, many rural populations are older and there is an increasing need for health services.
Hospitals are closed primarily due to financial issues. “Compared to urban areas, rural communities often have older, sick, poorer, and more uninsured populations, along with a large amount of patients and limited purchasing power.” Texas is also one of the highest uninsured fees in the country, with nearly 22% of 19-64 adults short on insurance.
For rural communities, these closures can have devastating consequences. According to De Figueiredo, when rural hospitals close, patient mortality rates increase by 8.7%. When urban hospitals close, mortality rates remain unchanged as other nearby facilities are usually available.
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