Viral list claims 14 rural WA hospitals at risk of closure due to cuts. Some disagree

As Congress charged toward passing the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, a list picked up steam on social media.

The list warned that hundreds of rural hospitals nationwide, including 14 in Washington, could potentially be forced to close because of the megabill’s health-care cuts, igniting outrage and concern among residents and hospital staff alike.

Some of those 14 facilities could indeed be in big trouble, Washington hospital advocates say — but not all.

In a June 12 letter, U.S. Sen. Edward Markey, a Massachusetts Democrat, and three upper-chamber colleagues urged President Donald Trump and Republican congressional leaders to reverse course on proposed reductions to Medicaid, which provides health coverage to low-income people.

An attached list showed more than 330 rural hospitals nationwide disproportionately threatened by possible service cuts, conversion or closures.

Criteria for the list was two-fold: Hospitals had either served the highest share of Medicaid patients or endured three back-to-back years of negative total margins, or both.

Democrats — including U.S. Sen. Patty Murray of Washington — have cited the list when arguing that the sweeping new tax and policy law will likely prove financially ruinous for scores of rural hospitals and bloat backlogs in still-standing facilities.

But the Washington State Hospital Association says that its own data doesn’t exactly match up with the list.

Mason General Hospital in Shelton, for one, won’t be turning out the lights.

“I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had to assure people within the community, and even our own employees, that Mason Health is not closing,” said Mason Health CEO Eric Moll. Mason General Hospital is part of Mason Health, a public hospital district.

McClatchy contacted listed Washington hospitals by phone, email and through website submission forms to ask their perspective on the newly passed legislation’s anticipated effects. The media company has also reached out to Markey’s office seeking comment.

Here’s what the hospitals that responded had to say.

WSHA worried about Medicaid cuts

There’s little dispute that major changes are coming for many hospitals and patients due to the Big Beautiful Bill, signed into law July 4.

The legislation is estimated to slash about $1 trillion from federal Medicaid spending over the next decade. Roughly 12 million people are expected to lose their health coverage, PBS reported.

Hospitals in Washington are projected to hemorrhage $662 million in revenue each year because of the Medicaid cuts, according to the center-left think tank Third Way. At least 250,000 Washingtonians may soon be stripped of Medicaid coverage, according to Gov. Bob Ferguson’s office.

But some Evergreen State hospitals are concerned that they appeared on Markey’s list, leading the Washington State Hospital Association (WSHA) to share talking points with members.

“They had lots of people that were patients who are like, ‘Are you guys shutting your doors now? I have an appointment — do I still come?’” said WSHA spokesperson Beth Zborowski, pointing to viral social media posts about the list.

“I think there was a bit of panic going through the community.”

That isn’t to say that there isn’t cause for alarm, WSHA contends. The organization remains “absolutely worried” about how cuts in the bill will hurt rural hospitals and services, said Jacqueline Barton True, vice president for advocacy and rural health at WSHA.

The list had depended on nationally available data from the Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research at the University of North Carolina. So, a bit of Washington state-specific nuance was missing, Barton True explained.

Some of the 14 Washington hospitals belong on the list, just not every one, she said. And other hospitals that weren’t included probably should have been.

Barton True said she appreciates that lawmakers are speaking out about “just how awful” the Big Beautiful Bill is. The list’s broader message rings true in her view: Hospitals can’t absorb this level of cuts without needing to make serious changes.

“No one’s going to be having fun. Everyone’s going to be making hard choices,” she said. “That is the big headline on that.”

Mason General Hospital

Mason Health won’t close, nor does Moll expect it’ll pare down services. However, he said, the bill will still have a significant impact on Mason Health and come down hard on rural hospitals elsewhere, which have a disproportionately high share of Medicaid patients.

As many as 5,000 Mason County residents could lose their health coverage because of the new law, he said — a not-insignificant number given the county’s population of 65,726 as of 2020, per the U.S. Census Bureau. And Mason Health could miss out on some $5 million in Medicaid reimbursements annually.

Yet Moll explained that Mason County is rare in that it’s one of the rural counties that’s still growing. Its over-65 population is expected to climb 11% over five years.

Despite the ongoing challenges, Mason Health aims to grow to meet the community’s needs, particularly when it comes to primary care, he said.

“It allows us to really focus on: How do we create more access?” he said. “And that becomes partly a way to mitigate some of these fairly significant cuts that are coming down the road in a couple of years.”

Moll said Mason Health will continue showing up for the community; it’ll provide care to the newly uninsured via avenues such as charity care, which is financial aid to help Washingtonians cover hospital bills. Mason Health may also trim operational expenses, such as discretionary non-salary payroll.

He added: “Even in light of this, we’re continuing to focus on increasing access and expanding efficiency.”

Three Rivers Hospital

Three Rivers Hospital in Brewster, north of Chelan in Eastern Washington, was “surprised to learn there was a list at all,” said Jennifer Best, business development coordinator and public records officer.

It’s not totally inaccurate to classify Three Rivers as being at risk, Best said via email. But the hospital is not looking to cut services at the moment and isn’t in imminent danger of closing.

She said the nonprofit hospital is used to running with thin margins. It’s unclear how vast the fallout from Medicaid shifts will be, but Three Rivers leadership is watching closely to be as prepared as possible.

“To say this decision was disappointing is an understatement,” Best said of the federal move to cut Medicaid.

About 31% of Three Rivers’ patients are on Medicaid, Best said, and it remains to be seen how many may lose coverage. The hospital offers financial assistance and will continue helping people navigate insurance changes.

Three Rivers is deploying a “growth-focused strategy,” Best said. It’ll add more low-overhead services, like advanced-wound care; promote preventative-care visits; save costs through delays on non-critical purchases and hiring; and share equipment, resources and providers with neighboring hospitals, among other ideas.

Astria Sunnyside and Toppenish hospitals

Neither Astria Toppenish Hospital nor Astria Sunnyside Hospital were contacted about the list of possible closures, said Jane Winslow, system director of community relations and marketing at Astria Health. She first heard about it when staff began sharing excerpts from the list, concerned that their facilities were shuttering.

Whether either Astria hospital is at risk of closure is a complex question, she said.

“Are we closing our doors right now? No, we’re not,” Winslow said in a call. “Our services are open. People from the community — everyone is welcome into our hospitals.”

Everything is “on the table,” but Astria Health is committed to continue providing health care for its communities, she said. She urges anyone with a medical condition to seek services, even if they lack legal citizenship or insurance.

“It doesn’t matter. Hospitals are required by federal law to treat you,” Winslow said. “... I’m urging patients, if you’re sick: Go to the hospital.”

Providence St. Joseph’s Hospital, Chewelah

Providence St. Joseph’s Hospital in Chewelah, north of Spokane, was flagged on Markey’s list. Providence said in an emailed statement that the new law poses a “significant threat to the health and well-being of our communities” and places “essential health programs and services at risk while stripping access to health care for millions of Americans.”

Providence did not say whether the Chewelah hospital is at risk of closure but warned of the bill’s negative implications, such as limited health services, delays and longer wait times.

“Our nearly 170-year tradition of meeting the needs of the community and serving the poor and vulnerable remains steadfast as we continue to support our communities through this time of uncertainty, including providing assistance with medical bills, such as free or discounted care, to those who qualify,” the statement continued. “Patients can learn more on Providence’s financial assistance website.”

This story was originally published July 25, 2025 at 1:24 PM.

Simone Carter

The Olympian

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