US Loses 216 Hospitals Since 2010 as Closures Outpace Openings Nationwide
Updated
Updated · The Washington Post · Oct 8
US Loses 216 Hospitals Since 2010 as Closures Outpace Openings Nationwide
1 articles · Updated · The Washington Post · Oct 8
Summary
More than 400 US hospitals closed from 2010 to 2025, leaving a net loss of 216 facilities and over 24,000 beds, according to a Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health study.
The study found closures are accelerating—up 4% year over year—while openings are falling 3%, deepening the nationwide loss of hospital capacity.
Smaller, for-profit and safety-net hospitals were more likely to shut, hitting vulnerable and uninsured patients hardest.
Urban and rural closure rates were nearly identical, challenging the view that hospital shutdowns are mainly a rural problem.
Researchers said Medicaid coverage losses and payment cuts tied to President Donald Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill could intensify the strain, especially as federal attention has focused more on rural care than urban hospitals.