Deaconess confirms it is not closing three Kentucky hospitals
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Evansville-based Deaconess Health is not planning to close three hospitals in Kentucky following speculation of potential issues that could be caused by legislation currently being considered in Congress.
The health system confirmed to our partners at WEHT-TV that Deaconess Henderson Hospital, Deaconess Union County Hospital and Baptist Health Deaconess Madisonville will remain open.
The statement follows a report from the National Rural Health Association that suggested the Henderson hospital could see big reductions if proposed cuts to Medicaid go through, WEHT reported.
Deaconess, however, did acknowledge concerns of the potential impact of federal and state budget cuts on rural hospitals.
“We take these concerns seriously. The financial health of rural hospitals is a critical issue, and we agree that proposed reductions in health care funding could have serious long-term consequences for hospitals serving rural communities like ours,” the health system said. “However, it is important to recognize that these conversations are about future policy discussions, not our current operational status.”
The NRHA report said rural hospitals, including 35 in Kentucky and 12 in Indiana, are at risk of scaling back services or closing due to their reliance on Medicaid.