South Carolina has lost 4 rural hospitals since 2010, Medicaid cuts could worsen the trend
The hospitals that closed were Bamberg County Memorial in Bamberg, Southern Palmetto Hospital in Barnwell, Marlboro Park Hospital in Bennettsville, and Fairfield Memorial in Winnsboro. South Carolina currently has 24 rural hospitals that are open.
South Carolina has lost four rural hospitals since 2010 and that trend could worsen if there are cuts to Medicaid.
According to the South Carolina Daily Gazette, losing income from Medicaid patients could worsen financial challenges for rural hospitals.
The four rural hospitals that closed had a total of 208 patient beds.
The Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has a map and sortable list of the 87 hospitals that have completely closed since 2010 and the 65 that no longer provide inpatient services, but continue to provide some services.
The hospitals that closed were Bamberg County Memorial in Bamberg, Southern Palmetto Hospital in Barnwell, Marlboro Park Hospital in Bennettsville, and Fairfield Memorial in Winnsboro.
South Carolina currently has 24 rural hospitals that are open.
