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Rural Hospitals at Risk

Virginia's Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Resources lends an ear to a grassroots organization protesting the possible closure of 283 rural hospitals across the country, including the Commonwealth.

Dr. Jennifer Lee said it's yet another reason why she believes Medicaid expansion could be the answer.

Adam O'Neal is the conservative Mayor of the town of Belhaven, North Carolina. He says the area's local hospital, which provided a lot of indigent care, was forced to close. After trying to keep it open, he learned that 283 hospitals across the nation share a similar challenge.

"And with the Affordable Care Act the indigent care reimbursements fall. But they're to be replaced by Medicaid expansion. So if you don't have Medicaid expansion you have revenues that are falling and it causes are problem."

He says the tragedy is that people who need emergency care die because the closest hospital is too far away. He and others are walking 283 miles—which represent the 283 rural hospitals—to Washington. They’re also urging state legislatures and Governors to pass measures to ensure the hospitals’ sustainability.  O’Neal asked for guidance and support from Deputy Health Secretary Dr. Jennifer Lee, who acknowledges Virginia’s problem.

"It's hard because the hospitals don't want that to become known. It creates concern in the community. But we think there are quite a few that are really struggling. And if we had Medicaid expansion it would be an enormous benefit." 

O’Neal hopes the attention generated from this march will inspire Congress to act.

Tommie McNeil is a State Capitol reporter who has been covering Virginia and Virginia politics for more than a decade. He originally hails from Maryland, and also doubles as the evening anchor for 1140 WRVA in Richmond.
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