To the Editor,
I am writing to express grave concern regarding the detrimental impact the recently enacted “One Big Beautiful Bill” (OBBB) Act is having on our already fragile rural clinics and hospitals. I am a retired nurse practitioner who worked at the Mayo Clinic Health System in Caledonia, Minn., for 28 years. I recently learned it will close this December along with five other Mayo Clinics. The closure of a rural hospital or clinic is devastating. Rural hospitals and clinics are already under severe financial strain with nearly 50% of rural hospitals and clinics operating with negative margins.
When a rural facility closes, the community loses immediate medical care. Patients are forced to travel dozens of miles farther for emergency care, routine appointments, and essential services like having a baby, leading to delayed treatment and poorer health outcomes.
The primary threat comes from the substantial cuts to Medicaid. Medicaid is a critical lifeline in rural communities, which have a significantly higher proportion of residents relying on the program due to lower incomes and fewer private insurance options.
The legislation’s changes, including new work requirements and increased administrative hurdles like more frequent eligibility checks, are projected to cause many rural residents to completely lose their Medicaid coverage.
Healthcare is a right, not a privilege. We should not retreat from our commitment to rural healthcare. This should be a bipartisan legislative issue to be reversed immediately.
Deb Miller
Houston, Minn.
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