How Medicaid Cuts Could Impact Your Health Care in Southwest Colorado: What You Need to Know

Rural hospitals are essential for our communities. They handle emergencies, serve as medical homes, and help boost the local economy. However, proposed cuts to Medicaid, amounting to over $750 million in the next ten years, threaten this lifeline.

In parts of rural southwest Colorado, around 30% of patients depend on Medicaid. This program is crucial for families, seniors, children, and people with disabilities, providing access to preventive care, medications, and hospital stays. Without Medicaid, many would struggle to maintain healthy lives in their communities.

We welcome everyone who enters our doors, but reduced Medicaid reimbursements create significant challenges. Medicaid doesn’t just support patients; it pays the salaries of nurses, lab technicians, and other local workers. When these funds are cut, it impacts not just the hospital but the entire community.

When we can’t offer certain services anymore, the effects ripple throughout the community. Local jobs vanish, and revenue that supports local businesses declines. According to a recent report by the American Hospital Association, rural hospitals contribute $1.5 billion to local economies every year. Cutting Medicaid threatens these vital contributions.

Losing Medicaid would increase travel distances for patients, limit available specialty care, and exacerbate workforce shortages. This program is essential for securing equitable healthcare in small towns. Rural hospitals are the backbone that supports health in these areas. Protecting Medicaid means safeguarding rural America.

While Congress discusses the future of Medicaid, we must remember the real lives affected—those in emergencies at our hospitals, pregnant women relying on local clinics, and elderly citizens needing home health services. These aren’t just statistics; they’re our neighbors and friends.

At Mercy Hospital, Southwest Health System, and Pagosa Springs Medical Center, we are dedicated to improving rural healthcare. We need strong partnerships with federal and state leaders who recognize that preserving access to care is essential for our region.

Now is the time to act. Every American, no matter where they live, deserves access to healthcare. Let’s work together to protect services crucial for our rural communities.

Josh Neff is President of CommonSpirit Health Mercy Hospital in Durango. Joe Theine is CEO of Southwest Health System in Cortez, and Dr. Rhonda Webb is CEO of Pagosa Springs Medical Center.

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