Many of them are rural hospitals whose closures don’t usually make the headlines, but that doesn’t mean they’re expendable. Rural communities supply most of the country’s food and energy. If those communities can’t access healthcare, it could mean power outages and empty pantries nationwide, even in big cities.
More than 29 percent of rural hospitals in the U.S. are either at immediate or high risk of closure. Texas holds the most, with 76 — or half of the state’s rural hospitals. Multiple states surpass Texas in percentage of at-risk rural hospitals.
The 10 states with the most rural hospitals at risk of closing:
Note: For information on specific at-risk hospitals, see this database.
|
State |
Hospitals at risk of closing |
Percent of state total |
|---|---|---|
|
Texas |
76 |
50% |
|
Kansas |
55 |
53% |
|
Mississippi |
38 |
54% |
|
Oklahoma |
33 |
46% |
|
Alabama |
29 |
60% |
|
Arkansas |
22 |
46% |
|
Iowa |
22 |
24% |
|
Tennessee |
21 |
44% |
|
New York |
21 |
41% |
|
Georgia |
21 |
32% |
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