Hospital Closures Have Lasting Effects

New research out of the University of Minnesota suggests that as rural hospitals close, prices rise at nearby hospitals. This makes care less accessible for all Americans. Prices at rural hospitals can raise as much as 3.6% in the year following a nearby closure, averaging about $500 per inpatient stay. Hospital closures make care harder to access and erode affordability by forcing surviving hospitals to raise prices and meet demand. Read more here.