Hospitals, health systems see mergers as path to survival

Since 2005, 183 rural hospitals across 36 states have closed, leaving many people in those communities without timely access to essential medical services and often leading to a decline in the number of healthcare providers in those counties. This year alone, 19 hospitals have closed or filed for bankruptcy due to the increasing financial issues they continue to battle, including declining inpatient volumes, reimbursement challenges and the continued effects of the pandemic.