After nearly five decades in hospital and healthcare administration, I’ve seen firsthand the fragility of the financial framework supporting hospitals — and today, that foundation is starting to crack. If current discussions in Washington result in sweeping policy changes, we may soon witness a collapse that could destabilize hospitals across the country.
Many hospitals are already in distress. Rural facilities are closing entirely or eliminating essential services. Safety-net hospitals in urban areas are also under pressure, with many operating at a loss, pulling out of underserved neighborhoods, or shutting down. Despite…
