SUMMARY: A report from the Center for Healthcare Quality and Payment Reform reveals that almost half of Mississippi's rural hospitals are at risk of closing. Out of the state's 74 rural hospitals, 34 are struggling financially, with 25 at risk of immediate closure. This puts Mississippi third in the country for states with the highest percentage of rural hospitals at risk of immediate closure. The CEO of the Center for Healthcare Quality and Payment Reform attributes the financial struggle to poor payments from private insurers, particularly Blue Cross. The pandemic has exacerbated the situation, and hospital officials are facing difficulties accessing federal COVID-19 relief funds. Experts suggest that Medicaid expansion could help alleviate the crisis.

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