What does the future hold for rural health care in Illinois amid federal policy changes?
Genesis Medical Center Photo Courtesy of Genesis Medical Center
Rural hospitals provide health care to thousands of people across Illinois -- people who live in rural areas, but either don't want to or can't drive out to a major city to get that care.
However, rural hospitals have been struggling for decades. Hundreds have closed and the ones that haven't face challenges from low patient numbers to low reimbursements from Medicaid and Medicare -- programs that give many rural residents access to care. Now, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act that President Trump signed into law last month is making substantial changes to those programs.
Experts in rural health care discuss the state of rural hospitals across Illinois and how many are preparing for the challenges ahead.
GUESTS
Tracy Warner
Executive Director, Illinois Critical Access Hospital Network
Melanie Evans
Reporter/Producer, Tradeoffs
Vicki Weidenbacher-Hoper
Associate Director, Rural Health Workforce & Center Development, National Center for Rural Health Professions
Ted Rogalski
Administrator, MercyOne Genesis Aledo Medical Center, and MercyOne Genesis DeWitt Medical Center
Hosted by Christine Herman
