Rural Health
Rural Health Transformation: distress, REH conversions, and rural margin repair.
13 Virginia Rural Hospitals at Risk of Closure, State Report Finds
A June 4 report from the Virginia Joint Commission on Health Care found that 13 of the state's 36 rural hospitals are at risk of closure. Five facilities were classified as being at "immediate risk": Bon Secours Southampton Memorial Hospital, Carilion Giles Community Hospital, Carilion Tazewell Community Hospital, Sentara Halifax Regional Hospital, and VCU Health Tappahannock Hospital.
The Desk - Jordan Leahy · June 9, 2026
LewisGale Hospital Pulaski Denies Closure Risk Cited in Virginia State Report
A draft report from the Virginia Joint Commission on Health Care identified LewisGale Hospital Pulaski as one of 13 rural hospitals in the state at risk of closure, according to reporting by WFXRtv on June 6, 2026. The report examined the financial viability of Virginia's 36 rural hospitals.
The Desk - Jordan Leahy · June 7, 2026
Millinocket Regional Hospital Opens New ED Backed by $13.4M in Federal Funding
Millinocket Regional Hospital held a grand opening for its new emergency department on May 15, 2026. The new facility in Millinocket, ME, is set to double the number of available patient rooms.
The Desk - Jordan Leahy · June 6, 2026
Two Samaritan Hospitals in Oregon Eligible for Nearly $2M in Rural Maternity Care Grants
Two hospitals in Lincoln County, Oregon—Samaritan Pacific Communities Hospital and Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital—are each eligible for up to $963,000 in grants. The funds are part of a $37.5 million state and federal initiative announ…
The Desk - Jordan Leahy · June 5, 2026
CMS Awards Kansas $222M for First Year of Rural Health Transformation Program
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced during the week of Jan. 5, 2026, that Kansas will receive $222 million for 2026. The funds represent the first-year allotment for the state under the five-year Rural Health T…
The Desk - Jordan Leahy · June 5, 2026
Citizens Health Completes $105M Critical Access Hospital in Rural Northwest Kansas
Construction has concluded on a new $105 million replacement hospital for Citizens Health in Colby, Kansas. The facility, Citizens Medical Center, consolidates the provider's services into a single campus to serve a nine-county region.
The Desk - Jordan Leahy · June 5, 2026
Ovation Healthcare Publishes Guide Addressing Rural Hospital Viability
On June 4, 2026, Ovation Healthcare announced the release of a white paper, "The Rural Transformation Roadmap," aimed at helping rural healthcare leaders build sustainable, long-term operational models.
The Desk - Jordan Leahy · June 4, 2026
→ The Distress Watch — critical-access hospitals ranked by CMS operating margin.