Fifty rural hospitals have closed since 2010 and another 283 rural hospitals across the nation are vulnerable to closure, according to a report from iVantage Health Analytics, a firm that compiles a hospital strength index that is based on data about financial stability, patients and quality indicators.
Here are five things to know about the financial struggles many rural hospitals are facing, according to iVantage.
1. The 283 rural hospitals vulnerable to shutting down are located in 39 states. The hospitals were identified as vulnerable based on 60 performance characteristics.
2. In states that have expanded Medicaid 8.5 percent of the rural hospitals are vulnerable to closure.
3. In states that have not expanded Medicaid 16.5 percent of rural hospitals are vulnerable to closure.
4. If the vulnerable hospitals were to close their doors 700,000 Medicare patients would have to travel further away from their homes than they currently do for medical care.
5. If the vulnerable hospitals were to shut down 86,000 jobs, including 36,000 healthcare jobs, in rural communities would be lost, and it would result in an estimated $10.6 billion loss to the GDP.