Fredonia Hospital at Risk of Closure

Since 2012, Kansas Republicans have blocked attempts to expand Medicaid in Kansas. In addition to an estimated 40,000 residents dying destitute in the past 10 years, dozens of rural area hospitals are at risk of closure, including Wilson County’s Fredonia Regional Hospital.

The report by the Center for Healthcare Quality and Payment Reform delivered in July 2023 found 58% of rural hospitals were at risk of closure.

Impact of Hospital Closures

Losing a rural hospital doesn’t just impact citizens who have to travel further for medical care, it can impact the whole community. Medical professionals may relocate to other cities for work, leaving smaller towns without their services, tax revenues, school aged children enrolled in public school, and so much more.

When a rural hospital closes, it can disrupt both the health care and the economy of a community. The health care sector can supply as much as 10% of the jobs in a rural area. {Source}

How can Medicaid expansion help?

Very simply, Medicaid expansion gives federal government insurance to low income families to cover their medical costs – money which goes to the rural hospitals and systems which provide care. Because the hospitals at risk of closure cost more than they receive in revenue this program will directly increase the revenue of hospitals at risk.

Medicaid expansion gave states the chance to provide Medicaid coverage to people who earn up to 138% of the federal poverty level which is $15,417 for an individual or $26,347 for a family of three.

Medicaid is not a new program, it was established in 1965. Medicaid, jointly funded by the state and the federal government, requires coverage for certain groups of individuals: low-income children and some of their parents; poor pregnant woman; certain low-income seniors; and some individuals with disabilities who are under the age of 65. Under the Affordable Care Act, Medicaid eligibility will be extended to all individuals with incomes up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level beginning in 2014—$26,347 for a family of three and $15,417 for an individual. {Source}

Who will expansion cover?

Medicaid expansion will cover all families and individuals below this income level, including groups who are currently left out of public health coverage such as low-income, able-bodied parents, low-income adults without children, and many low-income individuals with chronic mental illness or disabilities, who struggle to maintain well-paid jobs but don’t currently meet disability standards for Medicaid. The expansion of Medicaid eligibility also cuts the rate of uninsured veterans and Native Americans in half and provides early treatment to people struggling with HIV. Unfortunately, many of the poorest citizens in states that may decide not to expand Medicaid will be victims of a coverage gap. Coverage for women with breast and cervical cancer, and coverage for some mental health and substance-abuse treatment for previously uninsured poor individuals can now be covered by Medicaid, as opposed to what was previously covered solely by states.{Source}

The report and list of Kansas hospitals at risk of closure is online here,