Impact of Medicaid and ACA Cuts on Rural U.S. Hospitals and Healthcare Services

The recent signing of a domestic policy bill that includes substantial cuts to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is prompting significant concerns among rural hospitals across the U.S. These healthcare providers, which serve many low-income and often uninsured patients, face critical challenges in maintaining essential but often unprofitable services such as pediatric care, women’s health, oncology, and mental health treatment. The bill’s provisions, including work requirements for Medicaid eligibility, changes to state funding mechanisms, and the expiration of ACA subsidies, threaten to reduce coverage for millions, jeopardizing rural hospitals’ financial stability.