The Center for Healthcare Quality and Payment Reform’s report found that 742 rural hospitals are at risk of closing, one-third of all rural hospitals in the country – are at risk of closing in the near future, with over 300 of those being classified as being at “immediate risk.” Will the Cook Hospital be one of those 742?

In the Feb. 14 edition of the Timberjay newspaper the headline read “Federal fund freeze sends chill thru Scenic Rivers” because of the federal Medicaid reimbursement freeze that had been implemented. Now with the House of Representatives voting in favor of very large Medicaid and Medicare cuts, the Cook Area Health Care system faces an even more uncertain future.

On Wednesday, June 18, starting at 6:30 p.m., a Healthcare roundtable will be held at the Cook Community Center so members of the community can hear directly from Teresa Debevec, the CEO of the Cook Hospital; Keith Harvey, the executive director of Scenic Rivers Health Services; Liz Dahl, the chair of the Cook Hospital Board; and the hospital board legislative committee chair, John Stegmeir, about what the future may look like if the present legislation becomes law. This event is free and open to all.

George Pliml