Small hospital, clinics in southeast Kansas will close

(AP) A hospital in a small southeast Kansas town is closing immediately, in part because it doesn’t have enough money to pay employees.

The board of directors of Oswego Community Hospital announced the decision Thursday. The board said the Oswego Community Hospital, the Oswego Community Clinic and the Chetopa Community Clinic will all close.

The hospital is one of three Kansas hospitals owned by EmpowerHMS, which has struggled to pay its bills at rural hospitals across the country. Its other two hospitals in Kansas are in Horton and Herington.

The board also said Kansas officials’ refusal to expand Medicaid contributed to the closure.

The Oswego hospital is a 12-bed critical access hospital. According to its website, the hospital and its clinics employ 65 people.

Kansas Governor Laura Kelly issuing this statement regarding the closing: “Once again, we see the consequences of failing to expand Medicaid. Another Kansas hospital, this time in Oswego, has closed its doors. Studies show about 30% of our state’s hospitals are considered financially vulnerable. In small communities across our state – these facilities are at serious risk of closure.

“Just by expanding KanCare – the state’s Medicaid program – we can help keep these important facilities open and provide affordable health care to 150,000 more Kansans – no matter where they live. It is time to put politics aside and do what is best for the families and communities of Kansas.

“I look forward to legislators following through on their pledge to move our agenda through the committee process and allow for a full floor debate on our Medicaid expansion proposal.”