Bass, Berry & Sims attorney Travis Lloyd was quoted in a Modern Healthcare article examining the impact to patients, communities and area healthcare providers when safety-net hospitals close. Safety-net hospitals are defined as institutions that dedicate at least a quarter of care to low-income patients. Due to a variety of financial factors – impact from the COVID-19 pandemic, rising labor and operational budgets, facility maintenance and upgrade costs, among others – many safety-net hospitals have either closed or are in danger of closing. These closures can have a negative impact on patients, communities and area healthcare providers as residents searching for medical care can put a strain on the alternative facilities.
“The worry isn’t just about shifting volume to other hospitals, it’s about patients dropping out of the healthcare system,” said Travis.
The full article, “When Safety-Net Hospitals Close, What Happens to Nearby Providers?” was published by Modern Healthcare on April 17 and is available online (subscription provided).