January 13, 2023
NRHA in The News – 2022 was Rough for Hospitals – 2023 Won’t be Much Better
Financial analysts have said that 2022 may have been the worst year for hospital finances in decades. This year looks like it will be yet another year of financial underperformance, with rural providers in especially dire circumstances. Only a handful of rural hospitals closed in 2021 and 2022, but these low totals are due to government relief, according to NRHA COO Brock Slabach, who is expecting an increase in rural hospital closures this year. Recent reports indicate at least 631 hospitals are at risk of closure. Stakeholders cite inflation and shrinking margins as key challenges, which may lead more hospitals to merge with other systems to survive. Act by 11:59 p.m. CST today to save hundreds on your chance to advocate in person for the needs of rural hospitals Feb. 7-9 at NRHA’s 34th Rural Health Policy Institute.