Lawmakers propose task force to stop rural hospitals from closing

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — A new task force could be created to find out why rural hospitals are closing in a newly proposed plan.

The bill was filed by freshman Rep. Amy Murri Briel (D-Ottawa) who said in her district there have been four hospital closures in six years.

"Those of us who live in rural communities have been facing this crisis for ten years," Briel said. "No one has been able to figure it out or maybe there hasn't been the will to do something about it."

The closing of rural hospitals is a national crisis, with many of these hospitals cutting services or closing due to profitability issues.

Another issue that plagues hospitals is the rise of ransomware attacks, cyberattacks that target hospital computers, lock access away from doctors and only return access after a fee has been paid.

One of the hospital closures in Briel's district was from a ransomware attack. She hopes this plan will help find a way to strengthen hospital computers from these attacks.

“This feels to me like there is finally an opportunity to find what’s wrong and use the brightest minds I know Illinois has to come up with a solution to make it work," Briel said.

Spokesperson for Illinois Health and Hospital Association (IHA) Paris Ervin said that Illinois rural hospitals are vital to the Illinois state healthcare system.

"More than 1.6 million Illinoisans live in rural communities and rely on their local hospital as an important, and only often, source of healthcare," Ervin said. "IHA is reviewing House Bill 1301 and looks forward to working with Rep. Briel."

According to the Center for Healthcare Quality and Payment Reform, across the U.S. nearly 200 rural hospitals have closed in the past two decades.

Lawmakers could consider this bill when they return to Springfield next week