Critics say funding cuts to Medicaid will have an impact on rural and small town hospitals. However, two Siouxland hospitals, Floyd Valley Healthcare in Le Mars and Orange City Area Health System, say Medicaid cuts will not impact them from providing services to their patients.
Only 11% of patients at Floyd Valley Healthcare use Medicaid. At Orange City Area Health System 10% of their patients rely on Medicaid as their primary insurance while another 5% use it as a secondary insurance.
Chris Sietstra, Director of Finance of Orange City Area Health System told Siouxland public Media, “Rural healthcare has been through changes before and will go through them again. It’s not easy but it’s what we do to serve our communities well”.
While these two hospitals are able to adapt, other small town and rural hospitals that rely on medicaid could be forced to close. Closures of hospitals in rural areas or small towns will force patients to travel long distances to receive healthcare services.
Medicaid cuts are scheduled to take effect in 2028.
*In other news, a new candidate has entered the race for Iowa’s fourth Congressional District.
Kyle Larsen, a Republican from Humboldt and third generation farmer, announced his candidacy Monday morning. In addition to being a farmer, Laresen also works as a land appraiser.
In a post Larsen said, “We deserve someone in Congress who has experienced life the way we have. This farmer is running for Congress so rural Iowa doesn’t lose our treasured family farms or our way of life.”
Other candidates in the race for Iowa’s fourth Congressional District include Republicans Mathew Windschitl and Chris McGowan and Democrat Ahsley WolfTornabane.
Current 4th District Congressman Randy Feenstra is running for governor.