Washington's Rural Hospitals Face Medicaid Cuts and Possible Closures
Rural hospitals in Washington, such as Dayton General, may be forced to close due to upcoming changes to the federal Medicaid program, leaving residents with limited access to healthcare.
About two years ago, Elise Severe's daughter Maddie had a medical emergency while getting ready for kindergarten. Severe recalled:
Then her head tilted back, and you could see her eyes go back, and all of the color just went away. Her lips were dark gray.Severe's family lives in Dayton, Washington, where access to healthcare is already limited.
The Severe family's experience highlights the importance of local hospitals, and the potential consequences of their closure.
Author's summary: Rural hospitals in Washington face closures due to Medicaid cuts.