From a Virginia hospital back in business after more than eight years to an Iowa facility lining up federal dollars to return as a rural emergency hospital, here are five hospitals that reopened or advanced plans to reopen in 2026:
1. Flint, Mich.-based Insight Health System said Nov. 5 it is moving forward with plans to reopen Keokuk (Iowa) Area Hospital as a rural emergency hospital.
The project would be supported by $825,000 in federal funding through the Department of Agriculture’s Rural Healthcare Facilities program. Insight awarded the architectural and engineering design contract in October and has spent about $3.7 million maintaining the facility since acquiring it. The system expects to submit plans to the state for review in 2027.
2. Greenville, N.C.-based ECU Health received $25 million from the North Carolina General Assembly Oct. 8 to help restore emergency care in Martin County, N.C., through a rural emergency hospital at the former Martin General Hospital in Williamston.
The funds are part of $75 million in total state investments in ECU Health’s regional system of care model: $60 million for the rural emergency hospital and $15 million to advance planning for an expansion of ECU Health Beaufort Hospital in Washington, N.C. The money will be released over time as the project reaches certain milestones. Martin General closed Aug. 3, 2023.
3. BradenHealth acquired the former Jellico (Tenn.) Hospital from the city of Jellico in August, with plans to reopen it as a full-service hospital.
The purchase is a minimum $14 million investment and is expected to create about 120 jobs. The hospital will offer emergency, inpatient and community health services, with ambulance services to follow. It ceased operations in March 2024. Jamestown, Tenn.-based Phoenix Rural Health had secured a lease for the facility in February 2025 with plans to reopen it as a rural emergency hospital. BradenHealth is working with the Tennessee Health Facilities Commission and CMS on surveys, licensing and Medicare certification.
4. Houston-based Nutex Health said Jan. 12 it has reopened Humble, Texas-based Bayou City ER & Hospital.
The micro-hospital, formerly known as SE Texas ER & Hospital, closed in 2024. It offers 24/7 emergency and inpatient care.
5. Stuart (Va.) Community Hospital reopened Jan. 5, restoring full hospital and emergency department services to Patrick County.
The hospital, previously known as Pioneer Community Hospital of Patrick County, closed in 2017 and was purchased by BradenHealth in December 2024. The facility includes four operating rooms, on-site X-ray and CT imaging, emergency labs and a mobile MRI scanner.
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