US Hospital Closures Accelerate, Hitting Urban and Rural Communities Equally
A new Harvard study reveals that over 400 US hospitals closed between 2010 and 2025, with closure rates rising 4% annually while openings drop. The trend is not limited to rural areas; urban hospitals face similar risks. Closures disproportionately affect smaller, for-profit, and safety-net facilities, leading to a net loss of 216 hospitals and 24,000 beds. Rising insurance premiums and Medicaid policy changes are exacerbating the crisis, forcing patients to delay care and increasing wait times at remaining facilities.
