Largest rural declines in federal Medicaid spending and enrollment

BOWLING GREEN, KY.- A new study from the University of North Carolina reveals that over 330 hospitals serving a large share of Medicaid patients are facing serious financial challenges.

In Kentucky, 10 percent of rural hospitals are at the highest risk of closure, leaving communities vulnerable to cuts in Medicaid funding.

This issue extends beyond just the patients who rely on Medicaid—it also threatens the livelihoods of healthcare providers.

“It’s bad for everybody,” one expert says, noting that about 90,000 Kentuckians work in hospitals, earning wages roughly $10,000 higher than the state average.

Losing these hospitals would mean not just a healthcare crisis, but a significant blow to local economies. In many areas, rural hospitals are among the largest employers.

The Kaiser Family Foundation reports that 133,000 rural Kentuckians could lose health insurance if Medicaid access is reduced.

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