NEW: Three More Hospitals At Risk of Closing in Iowa Thanks to D.C. Republicans Gutting Medicaid
New at-risk hospitals in Council Bluffs, Oelwein, and Ottumwa
DES MOINES – A new report from NBC News reveals that three additional Iowa hospitals are at high risk of closing their doors thanks to Randy Feenstra, Ashley Hinson, Zach Nunn, and Mariannette Miller-Meeks voting to gut health care for 110,000 Iowans.
Jennie Edmundson Memorial in Council Bluffs, MercyOne Oelwein Medical Center, and Ottumwa Regional Health Center are all at high risk of closing or cutting services after Feenstra, Hinson, Nunn, and Miller-Meeks voted for the largest cut to Medicaid in history. This is in addition to estimates that at least 20 rural hospitals were already at risk of closure in Iowa when Republicans voted to gut Medicaid.
These hospital closures will force Iowans to pay more and travel farther for basic care, puts health care workers’ jobs at risk, and threatens the economy in local communities.
“Randy Feenstra, Ashley Hinson, Zach Nunn, and Mariannette Miller-Meeks voted for the largest cut to Medicaid in history, and Iowans across the state are paying the price,” said Iowa Democratic Party Chair Rita Hart. “Thanks to Feenstra, Hinson, Nunn, and Miller-Meeks, at least 23 hospitals across Iowa are on the brink of closing their doors and 110,000 Iowans will lose their health care. That’s devastating to Iowans and just plain wrong. Iowans have the opportunity to hold them accountable this November for putting our health care, rural hospitals, and jobs on the chopping block.”
Iowa Republicans’ vote to gut Medicaid is already having devastating impacts:
- Just last week, MercyOne Clinton Medical Center announced it will end labor and delivery services, forcing Iowans to travel an hour or longer to receive care.
- MercyOne laid off over 100 Iowans in Des Moines and Mason City thanks to federal cuts to Medicaid.
- Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center in Fort Madison ended its birthing and delivery services in December.
- Pella Regional Medical Clinic in Ottumwa reduced family practice operations in January.
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