Rural hospital closures led to higher prices at nearby hospitals

Rural hospital closures directly impact the health of rural Americans by reducing access to care. New research from the University of Minnesota School of Public Health sheds light on another consequence of these closures: rising prices at "surviving" rural hospitals. This first-of-its-kind analysis shows that when a rural hospital closes, it eliminates a low-price, potentially more affordable hospital from the region. Moreover, commercial prices at nearby hospitals increased by 3.6% in the years following a closure.

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