Half of Rural Texas Hospitals Could Close

More than half of rural hospitals in Texas are at risk of closure, putting more of the state’s population farther from medical care. “Recent data indicates that 108 of those hospitals have reduced or lost critical services. Eighty-seven are at risk of closure, and 22 face the threat of shutting down immediately,” explains Madeline de Figueiredo in The Daily Yonder. Meanwhile, much of the rural population is older, with a growing need for healthcare services.

Hospitals are primarily closing due to financial issues. “Compared to urban areas, rural communities often have older, sicker, poorer, and more underinsured populations, along with lower patient volumes and limited purchasing power.” Texas also has one of the highest uninsured rates in the nation, with almost 22 percent of adults between 19 and 64 lacking insurance.

For rural communities, these closures can have devastating consequences. According to de Figueiredo, patient mortality rates increase by 8.7 percent when a rural hospital closes. When an urban hospital closes, mortality rates remain unchanged since there are usually other nearby facilities available.