Sparta’s hospital has been listed at risk for closure

Rural nonprofits are voicing warnings across Tennessee and beyond about risks to hospitals across the state. With the passage of President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” doctors fear many rural hospitals are at major risk of closing. Ascension Saint Thomas Highlands, in Sparta, is listed as one of those at-risk hospitals.

Because of cuts in Medicaid being included in the bill, which is a major source of payment in rural hospitals, many believe the rural hospitals will be disproportionately impacted by the change. Tennessee has nine hospitals in rural areas that are at risk, according to UNC Chapel Hill researchers. The nine hospitals are as follows:

•Unicoi County Hospital in Erwin (Unicoi County)

•Wayne Medical Center in Waynesboro (Wayne County)

•Baptist Memorial Hospital in Huntingdon (Carroll County)

•West Tennessee Healthcare Volunteer Hospital in Martin (Weakley County)

•Dyersburg Regional Medical Center in Dyersburg (Dyer County)

•Vanderbilt Wilson County Hospital in Lebanon (Wilson County)

•Ascension Saint Thomas Dekalb in Smithville (DeKalb County)

•Ascension Saint Thomas Highlands in Sparta (White County)

•Saint Thomas Stones River Hospital in Woodbury (Rutherford County)

Gordon Bonnyman with the Tennessee Justice Center believes it is not just rural hospitals that will be affected. Bonnyman said half of the children in Tennessee use TennCare, which is the state’s Medicaid program.

“Children’s hospitals that serve both urban areas and rural are very much affected,” Bonnyman said.

Senator Marsha Blackburn has pushed back against the concerns with a statement of her own, saying, “The One Big Beautiful Bill passed by the Senate delivers much-needed support for rural health in communities across Tennessee. The creation of the ‘Rural Health Transformation Fund’ would provide $50 billion to strengthen rural hospitals through enhanced recruitment and training of doctors, investment in innovative technologies that improve patient outcomes, and improved access to hospitals.”

The Expositor has reached out to Ascension Saint Thomas to ask about their concerns with the bill and risk to their hospital. Fahad Tahir, president and CEO for Ascension Saint Thomas, had this to share on the passage of the bill.

“We are deeply disappointed with the cuts to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act included in legislation H.R.1 (One Big Beautiful Bill Act), which passed Congress,” Tahir said. “This bill falls short of supporting individuals and families who are poor, vulnerable, or too often left out of important decisions in Washington, causing nearly 12 million people to lose their health coverage.

“Today approximately 1.5 million Tennesseans (roughly 20% of the population) are supported by TennCare. 1 in 2 babies born in Tennessee are covered by TennCare. As a health system committed to caring for all regardless of coverage we have deep concerns about potential loss of coverage for the most vulnerable Tennesseans and will continue to advocate on behalf of our community as the impacts of the legislation will be felt.

“While we do not expect immediate operational changes - we know that these cuts will have many Tennesseans facing medical uncertainty, particularly in rural communities. As the only faith-based, nonprofit health system in Middle Tennessee, Ascension Saint Thomas has cared for our communities for 125 years and will continue to do so. Today, we serve a 45-county area through 18 hospitals, including 6 rural hospitals, and more than 320 sites of care, with our more than 13,000 associates caring for millions of Tennesseans each year.

“As a Catholic health ministry, we remain committed to advocating for those who may not have a voice in policy conversations. Our Mission has not changed. We will continue to provide high-quality care to everyone we serve, with special attention to those most in need, regardless of their health coverage status.”