America Has a Healthcare Crisis, and It's Hurting Rural Towns

In the last decade, almost 10% of community hospitals have shut down in rural towns across the country. The closures have led to dwindling populations and limited access to healthcare.



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[Xckel]

If you want a capitalist healthcare system, then there's no reason to be in business where there aren't a ton of customers. There's no reason for people to employ themselves in a small healthcare operation with few opportunities to move up either. The US healthcare system is about making $, not about making people healthy.

[macanoodough]

I think that old man forgets, we already pay for it...
Healthcare costs here are more expensive than every other industrialized nation, yet we receive less.

[abdiganiaden]

For the amount we spent in Afghanistan, we could have had healthcare.
What a tragic waste across the board.

[taylorbug]

This is why everything in life can't be about money.

[zetianfang]

Rural population mostly republican is over represented on the federal level in Congress, and they keep voting in politicians that would harm themselves the most. It is an irony to say the least.

[PolarPuchuu]

The fact that that guy said "Having that hospital was like a luxury we didn't know we needed" is insane. Healthcare is not a luxury, its a right to life and that fact that rural Americans aren't getting that right is absolutely disgraceful.

[Tripleexel]

Ah the joys of for profit healthcare, you see the same trend in for profit post office system. There is no money in operating in rural

[Ralvik]

"america has a healthcare crisis: and it fucking sucks for everyone" fixed that title for ya

[peeks]

Vice has just been pumping out this high quality journalism out recently. Props to them.

[SHARK-EATINGCAT]

Ask yourself if you believe healthcare is a privilege for the wealthy, or a right for every person.

If healthcare is a privilege, then hospitals are responsible for their own funding, and rural areas and poor communities deserve to have less healthcare.

But if healthcare is a right, the government has a duty to protect and ensure that right for everyone regardless of wealth. Nationalized healthcare and government funding would keep these hospitals open.

[zacconeacademy]

This is what happens when you make healthcare about making money instead of saving lives

[valerywac]

Here's the problem: healthcare = business.

[tinagarcia]

It's extremely sad and disappointing when the United States of America, the most famous and lucrative countries in the world, has the worst healthcare system of all the top countries of the world. Our healthcare system sucks compared to other well developed countries.

[flubby]

I have lived in rural Kansas all my life and watching it die a slow death has been painful. The way of life that I loved (and still love) is just not there for my kids. I can trace my roots in Kansas back over 160 years when my relatives came from Germany and settled in the new territory. I have family cemeteries where generations of my family are laid to rest. I was born here. I am raising my kids here. And when I die I am going to be buried here, but I just don't see that for my kids. I have told them to leave. To go where the jobs are and not only their futures are, but their kids too. The people here are good people. My grandfather was an Eisenhower-type Republican who wanted smaller government, but hated segregation. He loved lower taxes, but hated the way gays were treated. He was appalled at the way many people turned away from what Kansas was in the past. Instead we are a breeding ground for far right conspiracies and misinformation. We went from a state that fought against slavery and championing women to vote to denying Medicare expansion because it was Communist. Just breaks my heart.

[JadedJassy]

These same people often vote against their own interest time and time again. Don't feel sorry.

[traplover]

"Then how can you stay in business" only in America is every aspect of your life controlled by big corporations.

[haruruben]

It’s called “voting against your own interests”

[JimGamingTV]

There’s no profit in providing healthcare in rural communities

[ShazySoft]

Putting money on the fact that none of these folks would have voted for the single payer system that would have solved this whole problem.

[metameta]

Socialism for the rich. Capitalism for the poor.