08/08/25: New research from the University of Minnesota shows rural hospital closures led to higher prices at nearby hospitals.  

School of Public Health assistant professor Caitlin Carroll says after a rural hospital closed, prices at nearby surviving hospitals went up almost 3.6%, an average of about $500 per inpatient stay. Carroll says the study also found rural hospitals that eventually closed charged 6% less than nearby hospitals, so closures forced patients into high-priced facilities. 

Joel Heitkamp is joined by Dr. Carroll to talk about it, and takes some of your calls.

(Joel Heitkamp is a talk show host on the Mighty 790 KFGO in Fargo-Moorhead. His award-winning program, “News & Views,” can be heard weekdays from 8 – 11 a.m. Follow Joel on X/Twitter @JoelKFGO.)