skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Monday, February 10, 2025

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Vance questions authority of US judges to challenge Trump; UAW contract negotiations at VW focus on higher wages, health care, retirement; Report highlights how Georgia can unlock rural infrastructure, broadband; Leftover fish parts could help keep industrial fishing waste low.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

The head of the new White House Faith Office draws scrutiny, Trump moves to fire the Federal Elections Commission chair, and a North Carolina judge won't toss tens of thousands of ballots in a state Supreme Court race.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Medical debt, which tops $90 billion has an outsized impact on rural communities, a new photography book shares the story of 5,000 schools built for Black students between 1912 and 1937, and anti-hunger advocates champion SNAP.

Help available for some rural hospitals on brink of closing

play audio
Play

Wednesday, December 18, 2024   

A new federal program launching next year is designed to help rural hospitals struggling to stay afloat.

Eight hospitals in Oregon are among about 360 rural hospitals at risk of closing because of severe financial problems, according to the Center for Healthcare Quality and Payment Reform.

To combat the problem, the National Rural Health Resource Center is launching the federal Rural Hospital Stabilization pilot program.

Alyssa Meller, chief operating officer for the National Rural Health Resource Center, said the program will offer technical assistance for up to two years to an initial cohort of eight hospitals and virtual community support to 12 more.

"It is a program that's aiming to improve the health care in rural communities by really helping keep health care services available locally," Meller explained. "To increase patient volume and improve revenue."

Meller pointed out the program will help engage the hospitals' communities to promote services, too. The application period opens today and closes Jan. 15.

Research shows the main factor putting hundreds of rural hospitals at risk of closure is private insurance plans reimburse them less than the cost of providing patient care. Meller noted operating costs often exceed reimbursement rates from Medicare and Medicaid, meaning smaller hospitals may lack the services tailored to the needs of local residents who may choose to go elsewhere for care.

"This program then will help stabilize their current service line," Meller emphasized. "But also will help them dive into what is needed at that local level, and provide technical assistance and support."

Meller added by last week, about 300 hospitals had already registered for Wednesday's virtual information session about the program.


get more stories like this via email

more stories
Salmonella, campylobacter, listeria and E. coli are among the leading bacterial causes of foodborne illnesses resulting in hospitalizations and death. (Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

play sound

Foodborne illnesses from meat and poultry products kill thousands of people a year and a new report from the Government Accountability Office offers w…


Environment

play sound

About 20% of fish caught in the wild are not used to feed people across the world but a recent study found the unused portions of fish prepared for th…

Environment

play sound

By Seth Millstein for Sentient.Broadcast version by Mark Richardson for Ohio News Connection reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collaborat…


Social Issues

play sound

The United Auto Workers union is negotiating its first union contract with Volkswagen at its Chattanooga plant, covering more than 4,000 members…

As of last October, 775,000 Washington state students have access to school meals. (New Africa/Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

play sound

Legislation in Olympia would make school meals free for every student. Senate Bill 5352 would ensure every student has access to free breakfast and …

Environment

play sound

By Grey Moran for Sentient.Broadcast version by Trimmel Gomes for Mississippi News Connection reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collabora…

Social Issues

play sound

The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption and the Texas Alliance of Child and Family Services are working together to find homes for foster-care childre…

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021