The Herington Hospital Board of Directors announced plans to immediately cease operations at Herington Hospital and its associated clinics. The hospital’s board of directors said in a press release Sunday the decision stemmed from lengthy financial struggles and low patient volumes.
Herington, located in north-central Kansas about half an hour south of Junction City, reported about 2,100 residents in the 2020 census.
The city-owned hospital featured 15 beds and had provided healthcare services since 1919. It becomes the tenth rural hospital in Kansas to shut down since 2005.
“There are many issues facing rural and urban hospitals across the country, including workforce shortages, financial challenges, stagnant reimbursement, inflation and increasing supply costs, demographic changes and regulatory barriers,” said Chad Austin, President and CEO of the Kansas Hospital Association.
Gov. Laura Kelly used the announcement as an opportunity to advocate for Medicaid expansion. “This closure makes clear the absolute necessity of expanding Medicaid this upcoming legislative session,” said Kelly. “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.”
