More health centers in Iowa are closed than open
A new study found more health care facilities have closed in Iowa than opened, and mental health facilities have closed at the highest rate in the past decade.
The findings were part of a report on the state of health care in Iowa released this week by the Common Sense Institute Iowa, a free business and policy think tank. The nonprofit organization studied the economics of the state’s health care sector, including health care costs, insurance premiums and its workforce.
“Even if we can live better than other countries, there are still big obstacles that we need to improve in order to improve our economy and improve our quality of life,” said Chelsea Lensing, a member of the health and well being in the Common. Sense Institute Iowa is the lead researcher on the report.
Also:This Des Moines hospital is rated 5 stars by CMS. How do the others compare?
According to the report, more than 600 health care facilities have closed from 2008 to 2023. That includes hospitals, home health care, clinics, nursing homes and other health care facilities. reviewed by the Iowa Department of Review and Appeals.
During that time, fewer than 450 facilities were opened, resulting in the closing of 250 health care facilities in Iowa.
Lensing, who is also a professor at Coe College, said: “It’s definitely an issue going forward, especially trying to understand how we can help this segment of the population that has been hit hardest by the shutdown. the color
Mental health facilities have seen a dramatic decline of 94% since 2008. Researchers found a total of 180 facilities to close, including 92 facilities to close from 2020 to 2023. From In 2008, only 11 mental health centers opened their doors.
The report found nursing care facilities — which include nursing homes, assisted living and residential care — saw the most openings and closings from 2008 to 2023. Researchers counted 262 closings. in total, including 88 that occurred in the last three years, as well as 219 opportunities across the country.
Report on financial, staffing issues facing the healthcare industry
A report by the Common Sense Institute Iowa also found Iowa hospitals face increasing financial pressures, with more than half of all hospitals in the state operating at a loss by 2022. This comes as hospital costs have increased by 66% from 2009 to 2022.
“Hospitals across the country, starting in 2022, are now operating at a loss for the first time,” said Ben Murrey, director of policy and research at the Center for Common Sense Iowa.
The report points to data from the Center for Healthcare Quality and Payment Reform, which estimates that 28 Iowa hospitals have enough cash flow to cover their losses for six to seven years. Ten hospitals do not have the resources to cover their losses for more than three years.
Also:An Iowa woman blames nursing home staffing shortages for her mother’s death. Will the new laws help?
In addition, the report found current health care workforce trends “point to significant shortages that will emerge in the coming years” as labor demand continues to outstrip supply. Researchers have found that the main reason behind this shortage is the aging workforce.
“While Iowa’s health care workforce is strong, policymakers and the industry must continue to look for ways to fill the health care workforce pipeline so that new workers can help meet the demand. current and filling the void left by retiring professionals,” says a report by the Common Sense Institute Iowa.
The institute says the latest legislation could act as a solution
Despite the problems identified in the report, researchers at the Common Sense Institute in Iowa said they believe state lawmakers have passed several policies that help address them.
The report points to several policies passed in recent state legislative sessions, including legislation that would limit punitive damages awards in medical malpractice cases as well as legislation that expands Medicaid coverage for postpartum women in Iowa.
Also:Most oppose allowing health workers to opt out of providing services based on their beliefs
Murrey noted that the new laws will take time to have an impact on the health care sector. He said Common Sense Iowa plans to continue monitoring the sector, with the latest report serving as a benchmark against which to measure any success from future legislation.
“Policymakers have done a good job of addressing some of these issues, and we’ll have to see if these things are affected by continuing to monitor the data,” he said.
Michaela Ramm provides health care for the Des Moines Register. He can be reached at mramm@registermedia.com, at (319) 339-7354 or on Twitter at. @Michaela_Ramm.
#health #centers #Iowa #closed #open