Virginia Report Puts 5 Rural Hospitals at Imminent Closure Risk as Medicaid Cuts Near $2 Billion
Updated
Updated · The Washington Post · Sep 24
Virginia Report Puts 5 Rural Hospitals at Imminent Closure Risk as Medicaid Cuts Near $2 Billion
2 articles · Updated · The Washington Post · Sep 24
Summary
A Virginia bipartisan health report flagged five rural hospitals as facing imminent closure, including Bon Secours Southampton Medical Center in Franklin, where residents already travel about 40 extra minutes for some care.
About 70% of Southampton’s patients use Medicare or Medicaid, and state officials say federal changes could strip roughly $2 billion a year from Virginia Medicaid starting in 2028 while ACA subsidy losses already pushed up to 90,000 residents off insurance this year.
Republican Rep. Jen Kiggans argues the spending law’s $189 million rural hospital fund will protect Virginia and says Medicaid work requirements target waste and fraud, but state officials say the aid will only soften the damage.
The hospital threat has become a flashpoint in Virginia’s toss-up 2nd District, where Democrat Elaine Luria is tying the potential closure to Trump-backed health policy in a race both parties see as pivotal to House control.