Over half of Mississippi's rural hospitals risk closing
Mississippi's leading public health official says over half of the state's rural hospitals are at risk of closing immediately or in the near future
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Over half of Mississippi's rural hospitals are at risk of closing immediately or in the near future, according to the state's leading public health official.
Dr. Daniel Edney, the state health officer, spoke to state senators at a hearing Monday about the financial pressure on Mississippi hospitals. Edney said 38 rural hospitals, 54% of the state's total hospitals, could close. The potential closures threaten to exacerbate poor health outcomes in one of the nation's poorest states.
“That is a situation that is intolerable from an economic standpoint — to lose 54% of our hospitals in the state — much less from an access to care perspective.”
Rural hospitals were under economic strain before the COVID-19 pandemic, and the problems have worsened as costs to provide care have increased. Mississippi's high number of low-income uninsured people means hospitals are on the hook for more uncompensated care. At the same time, labor costs weigh on hospitals as they struggle to pay competitive wages to retain staff.
