Washington, D.C. – The Federation of American Hospitals (FAH) released a new episode of its “Hospitals in Focus” podcast, featuring a conversation between FAH President and CEO Chip Kahn and National Rural Health Association’s CEO Alan Morgan. The discussion explores how proposed Medicaid cuts and the impending expiration of enhanced tax credits threaten the stability of rural hospitals — and what policymakers must do to protect access to care across America’s rural communities. 

“What’s happening iswe’ve clustered low-income populations in small communities with the inability to pay, and now we’re forcing these rural hospitals to pick up the tab,” said Morgan. “When you are operating at a slim profit margin, 48% of rural hospitals currently are operating at negative margin, you can’t take the bill for all these high health needs community populations without the ability to pay. And then you plow into the situation where on Capitol Hill they’re talking about cutting Medicaid, we’re heading in the wrong direction.”

Morgan continued, “Everyone loves rural hospitals. Now the challenge is, how do we share that for these rural hospitals to be successful? We need to make sure that the tax credits continue. We need to make sure that Medicaid is funded. We need to make sure there’s no cuts to Medicare. I know everyone says they love us, but now they have to tie these policies to their love. And I think that’s the challenge that we’re at right now.” 

“Hospitals In Focus” is a podcast series from FAH hosted by President and CEO Chip Kahn. It spotlights all things hospital, from advancements in patient care to how a hospital benefits its community.     

Listen to the “Hospitals in Focus” podcast HERE.    

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