It is important to keep abreast of the facts of the matter of hospital closure threats as it pertains to rural hospitals in the nation but also in Georgia. Major facts making 2019 especially vulnerable and bad for Georgia rural hospitals are as follows:
- Hospital CEO Turnover is again approaching 35%-40% and it is only March 2019. Continuity and planning are impossible in that scenario and can lead to rural hospital closures.
- The question is asked often of HomeTown ,” how many rural hospitals will close in 2019 and who are they?” The answer is we don’t know because every community has a different will to live but the 10 neediest hospitals on the DCH needy list of eligibles list gives a pretty good outline of the most vulnerable. Some may not agree with list but this is the best there is as a state official list . Disagreements must be registered with DCH as soon as possible because as time goes by these lists become more entrenched in many state and legislative level decisions that are being made at the state level.
- DSH payments made in December 2018 have long since been used up
- DSH payments for Georgia for 2019 could face a $70 million cut of the past available nearly $400 million or a nearly 20% cut this year in October. https://www.mhalink.org/MHA/MyMHA/Communications/MondayReportItems/Content/2019/02-25/Items/Pending-DSH-Cuts.aspx
- The cash crisis is already impacting many rural hospitals in Georgia