Issue link: https://beckershealthcare.uberflip.com/i/1284464
18 POPULATION HEALTH 18 CEO / STRATEGY 10 most, least concentrated hospital markets By Ayla Ellison T he hospital market in Peoria, Ill., is the most concentrated in the U.S., while Riverside, Calif., is the least concen- trated, according to an analysis from the Health Care Cost Institute. For the study, researchers analyzed more than 2.9 billion healthcare claims for people with commercial insurance from 2013-17 across 124 metro areas. e analysis showed that hospital markets in larger metro areas tended to be less con- centrated. For instance, three of the five least concentrated markets studied were New York City, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., while the three most concentrated markets were in metro areas with populations of less than 350,000, according to HCCI. Researchers noted that one factor that may influence a metro area's hospital market concentrations is the degree to which local residents seek care in neighboring regions. e researchers also found that most metro areas became more concentrated over time. In 2013, 66 percent of hospital markets were considered highly or very concentrated. at number climbed to 70 percent by 2017. Here are the 10 most concentrated hospital markets HCCI studied: 1. Peoria, Ill. 2. Columbia, Mo. 3. Springfield, Mo. 4. Greensboro, N.C. 5. Cape Coral, Fla. 6. Fort Collins, Colo. 7. Sheboygan, Wis. 8. Durham, N.C. 9. Provo, Utah 10. Omaha, Neb. Here are the 10 least concentrated hospital markets HCCI studied: 1. Riverside, Calif. 2. New York City 3. Philadelphia 4. Miami 5. Washington, D.C. 6. Baltimore 7. Chicago 8. Cincinnati 9. Providence, R.I. 10. Manchester, N.H. n Pandemic will force rural hospitals to consolidate, Oregon hospital CEO predicts By Morgan Haefner T he CEO of Sky Lakes Medical Center, a rural hos- pital in Klamath Falls, Ore., sees little way around consolidation for some rural hospitals that have been pushed to the brink by the COVID-19 pandemic. Rural hospitals were struggling before the COVID-19 pandemic hit. For some, financial pressures brought by the pandemic have forced them to close. For others, cash shortages are making long-term opera- tions unviable. Paul Stewart, CEO of Sky Lakes Medical Center, told Oregon Business that while his hospital will emerge from the pandemic financially stable and indepen- dent, that won't be the case for many rural hospitals. "Many rural facilities will not be in that position," Mr. Stewart told Oregon Business, "and they will be forced to consolidate and merge with other organizations. While that is good for their viability, it will entail mak- ing decisions for that local community that the com- munity may not like." n Walmart Health expanding to Florida, Illinois By Alia Paavola W almart plans to expand its standalone health clinics to Florida and Illinois, the company said July 22. The clinics, called Walmart Health, offer primary care, imaging, lab, dental and behavioral health services to consumers at low prices, regardless of insurance. Sean Slovenski, Walmart's senior vice president of health and wellness, said Walmart will open health clinics in Florida next year, focusing first on the Jacksonville area. He added that more details will be released at a later date, including exact locations, timing and service offerings. Mr. Slovenski also said that the company is planning locations in Illinois, but offered no details about expansions there. In June, Walmart Health opened two clinics, one in Loganville, Ga., and another in Springdale, Ark. The company already has clinics in the Georgia cities of Dallas and Calhoun. Walmart said it believes expanding the standalone clinics will help bring affordable, quality healthcare to more Americans. n