13 Alabama Hospitals Have Closed Since 2010
13 Alabama Hospitals have closed down since 2010 due to lack of funding, leaving many without close access to emergency healthcare. Here are the 13 Hospitals that have closed down in Alabama and the reasons why they shut down.
Randolph Medical Center – Closed 2011
Randolph Medical Center was located in Roanoke, AL. Cuts in payments from Medicare, Medicaid, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and a high indigent-care loss allegedly led to the hospital closure.
You can read more about the closing in this 2011 article on The Randolph Leader.
Southwest Alabama Med. Ctr. – Closed 2011
Southwest Alabama Medical Center was located in Thomasville, AL. Inability to meet payroll, a half a million dollar loss in 2010 and tax liens of at least $1 million are contributed to the closing of the hospital.
This article from Al.com goes into more detail.
Hartselle Medical Center – Closed 2012
Hartselle Medical Center was located in Hartselle, AL. The extreme challenges of healthcare reform, a weak economy and the toughest Medicare reimbursement climate in the nation in Alabama were said to contribute to the closing.
At the time of the hospital closing and during attempts to try to revive it, Hartselle was represented by Ed Henry. He was arrested in 2018 for defrauding Medicare and in January 2019 pleaded guilty to one count of theft of government property.
You can read more about the closing in this 2012 Hartselle Enquirer article.
Greil Memorial – Closed 2012
Greil Memorial was located in Montgomery, AL. Greil Memorial was a Psychiatric Hospital. Closure reasons listed include cost savings and the Olmstead vs. L.C U.S. Supreme Court decision which states that individuals with mental disabilities have the right to live in the community rather than in institutions.
A 2017 article from the Montgomery Advertiser mentions that the need for a Mental Health crisis center in the city.
You can read more about the closing in this 2012 WFSA article.
Infirmary West – Closed 2012
Infirmary West was located in Mobile, AL. The 2007 housing crash and subsequent economic class, low occupancy rate, and Alabama not expanding Medicare are listed as reasons why the hospital was forced to close.
This Al.com article expands more on the closing.
Searcy Hospital – Closed 2012
Searcy Hospital was located in Mobile, AL. The hospital was a Psychiatric Hospital. Like Greil Memorial above, cost saving and the Supreme Court ruling played a factor in shuttering Searcy.
Searcy has a storied history. You can read more about it this Wikipedia page. You can read more about the closing from this AL.com article.
Cooper Green-Mercy Hospital – Closed 2012
Cooper Green Mercy Hospital is located in Birmingham, AL. It still provides outpatient service but ended inpatient and emergency services in 2012. Those that voted to remove inpatient and emergency services cited the hospital losing money as the reason.
You can read more about the closing of the inpatient and emergency services in this Al.com article.
Chilton Medical Center – Closed 2013
Chilton Medical Center was located in Clanton, AL. Inability to meet payroll was listed as the reason for the closure.
More on the closing can be found at Clanton Advertiser.
Elba General Hospital – Closed 2013
Elba General Hospital was located in Elba, AL. The hospital cited a struggle to retain a strong patient base as the reason for shuttering the hospital.
An article on the closing can be found on the Dothan Eagle.
Florala Memorial Hospital – Closed 2013
Florala Memorial Hospital was located in Florala, AL. The hospital closed unexpectedly with only a note stating to call 911 left on the door. Later financial reasons were stated for the closing.
This article briefly describes the closing.
North Alabama Regional – Closed 2015
North Alabama Regional was located in Decatur, AL. The hospital was a Psychiatric Hospital. Like the previous two psychiatric hospitals, the Supreme Court ruling played a large roll.
This Al.com article goes into more detail on the closing.
RMC Jacksonville – Closed 2018
RMC Jacksonville was located in Jacksonville, AL. A volatile healthcare environment is cited as the reason for shutting down the hospital.
This Al.com article goes into more detail on the closing.
Georgiana Medical Center – Closed 2019
Georgiana Medical Center is currently located in Georgiana, AL and is set to close down on March 31, 2019. The rising costs of healthcare coupled with the cuts in Medicare reimbursement are cited as the reason for closing the hospital.
Al.com covers the closing in this article.
Many more hospitals, especially rural hospitals, are also at risk closing in the future if funding can not be found.
Brent Wilson was born and raised in Huntsville, Alabama and is the Owner and Chief Editor of BamaPolitics.com.
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