Grim Outlook For Rural North Dakota Health Care

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(Mike Moen–Prairie News Service) – North Dakota has 13 rural hospitals at risk of closing. Health policy analysts say it’s a problem that might worsen under Medicaid cuts tied to what was known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

The big federal spending bill signed by President Donald Trump has been a major priority for his administration and Republican lawmakers. But before and after its passage, large-scale changes to programs like Medicaid – to offset tax-cut extensions – have stood out to industry experts.

Louise Norris, health policy analyst with the independent research site Healthinsurance.org, said if nearly 12 million people lose Medicaid coverage, as predicted, a grim picture could come into focus for rural areas.

“If the one hospital there has very thin margins and Medicaid cuts force it to either pull back services, or if the hospital closes altogether,” said Norris, “the people in that area might have to drive four hours to get to other hospitals.”