Another rural Kansas hospital closes as Gov. Laura Kelly campaigns for Medicaid expansion

Another rural Kansas hospital is closing, and Gov. Laura Kelly is citing it as a reason for Medicaid expansion amid her statewide campaign ahead of the next legislative session.

The Herington Hospital Board of Directors announced Sunday the "imminent closure" of the hospital and its associated clinics. Operations would cease as soon as Wednesday. The hospital website was no longer operational as of Wednesday afternoon.

"This decision follows extensive evaluations and considerations stemming from lengthy financial struggles and consistently low patient volumes," said a statement from the hospital.

Herington Hospital had provided services to the community of the Flint Hills town near the corners of Dickinson, Morris and Marion counties. The statement praised community support and hospital employees "who have given their heart and soul for over a century."

The governor, who said the hospital closure is devastating to the community, has had the Department of Commerce rapid response team reach out to city leaders to share resources.

Kelly cited the hospital's closure as reason to expand Medicaid, which she has vowed to try for the sixth time when the Legislature convenes in January.

"This closure makes clear the absolute necessity of expanding Medicaid this upcoming legislative session," Kelly said. "Eight hospitals have now closed since we've had the option to increase access to affordable health insurance and support our hospitals, and over half of our rural hospitals are at risk of following suit. Kansas legislators cannot continue to turn their backs on the 78% of Kansans — their constituents — who want to expand Medicaid and save their hospitals."

Leaders of the Republican supermajorities in the Legislature have rebuffed Kelly's past attempts at Medicaid expansion, and it does not appear that that dynamic will change anytime soon. House Speaker Dan Hawkins, R-Wichita, has previously said "Medicaid expansion is a red line for me."

He and Senate President Ty Masterson, R-Andover, have also pushed back on Kelly's assertion that the hospitals closed because Medicaid was not expanded.

"It's been proven around the country, it is not stopping hospitals from being closed," Masterson told reporters last month. "Hospitals closed in expansion states."

"Really the reason why that is is because the hospitals that have closed, they were gonna close with Medicaid expansion," Hawkins said. "Medicaid expansion doesn't stop that from happening. ... Medicaid expansion, they think, is a panacea. It's not, and it's never going to be."

The governor's office cited research that rural hospitals in states that have not expanded Medicaid are more likely to close than rural hospitals in states that have expanded Medicaid. Additionally, hospitals and particularly rural hospitals are better off financially in expansion states.

Kansas Hospital Association president and CEO Chad Austin said there are many issues facing rural and urban hospitals. The lack of Medicaid expansion is among the issues.

"Hospitals in Kansas unfortunately face increased uncompensated care costs due to the lack of Medicaid expansion and a higher number of uninsured patient," Austin said in a statement via the governor's office. "In addition, many of our rural areas have an aging and decreasing population which may lead to less volume to cover needed hospital expenses."

Alliance for a Healthy Kansas spokesperson Lacey Kennett said Medicaid expansion is among the top actions Kansas policymakers could take to help hospitals with financial stability.

"The longer Kansas refuses to pass expansion, the more likely we are to continue losing hospitals and health care services," Kennett said in the governor's press release.

Jason Alatidd is a statehouse reporter for the Topeka Capital-Journal. He can be reached by email at jalatidd@gannett.com. Follow him on X @Jason_Alatidd.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Herington Hospital closes as Laura Kelly pushes Medicaid expansion