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Why shouldn't they close? If it is not cost effective to support rural communities why do we prop them up? Lot of these places have 20% unemployment rates(are

by adrr 7y ago

Why shouldn't they close? If it is not cost effective to support rural communities why do we prop them up? Lot of these places have 20% unemployment rates(areas listed in the article) yet there is a severe job shortage in urban areas. How about we fund moving them to areas that have better economic conditions/jobs?

saboot 7y ago
The question is how to provide healthcare for rural communities, these hospitals are it. The citizens often can't afford the healthcare, can't afford to go to a doctor until it's an emergency, and now with many of these closures they can't even get that. The easiest answer for many states is to expand Medicaid to cover a larger share of the low income population which can bring revenue to the hospitals with visits etc, but that seems to be very difficult politics for some individuals.
- ryguytilidie 7y ago
  >that seems to be very difficult politics for some individuals. Well, the frustrating thing is that those who are suffering essentially advocated for these policies that make them suffer and then just blame Obama and praise lord Trump for "getting things back on track" while their hospitals close.
- adrr 7y ago
  The example given in the article was in New Mexico which is a state that expanded medicaid. The labor participation in that county is 30% with 14% of working age people on disability. There aren't jobs in the county. Sante Fe on the other hand has 70% labor participation. Moving people to areas that have higher economic advantages and jobs is a long term fix. On other solutions are just bandaids and doesn't solve the underlying economic issues.
  - mymythisisthis 7y ago
    This is the least mobile generation, few people more around. We need to make it easier for people to move around.
0xB31B1B 7y ago
A disproportionate number of people living in rural communities are retired and would not benefit from moving to a place with more jobs. I do 100% relocating old people from the country to the city though, more for reasons of reducing their subsidy, saving the planet, and reducing the number of people over 80 driving cars.

by adrr 7y ago

saboot 7y ago

The question is how to provide healthcare for rural communities, these hospitals are it. The citizens often can't afford the healthcare, can't afford to go to a doctor until it's an emergency, and now with many of these closures they can't even get that. The easiest answer for many states is to expand Medicaid to cover a larger share of the low income population which can bring revenue to the hospitals with visits etc, but that seems to be very difficult politics for some individuals.

ryguytilidie 7y ago
>that seems to be very difficult politics for some individuals. Well, the frustrating thing is that those who are suffering essentially advocated for these policies that make them suffer and then just blame Obama and praise lord Trump for "getting things back on track" while their hospitals close.
adrr 7y ago
The example given in the article was in New Mexico which is a state that expanded medicaid. The labor participation in that county is 30% with 14% of working age people on disability. There aren't jobs in the county. Sante Fe on the other hand has 70% labor participation. Moving people to areas that have higher economic advantages and jobs is a long term fix. On other solutions are just bandaids and doesn't solve the underlying economic issues.
- mymythisisthis 7y ago
  This is the least mobile generation, few people more around. We need to make it easier for people to move around.

0xB31B1B 7y ago

A disproportionate number of people living in rural communities are retired and would not benefit from moving to a place with more jobs. I do 100% relocating old people from the country to the city though, more for reasons of reducing their subsidy, saving the planet, and reducing the number of people over 80 driving cars.