Patterson Health Center to Close Dialysis Program Due to Medicare Funding Shortfall
After much thought and careful evaluation, Patterson Health Center will close its outpatient dialysis program on August 1, 2025. This decision comes in response to ongoing financial challenges, specifically unsustainably low reimbursement rates from Medicare and difficulty in receiving payment from private insurance, which is compounded by rising expenses — a growing concern for many rural healthcare providers.
“This decision wasn’t made lightly,” remarked Sarah Teaff, PhD, FACHE, CEO of Patterson Health Center. “While we had hoped dialysis could become a sustainable, long-term service, operational costs far surpass the reimbursement we receive. As stewards of the hospital district’s resources, we are committed to balancing community health with fiscal responsibility, while always prioritizing our commitment to high-quality patient care.”
One of the greatest challenges is that Medicare currently reimburses only a small percentage of the total cost of treatment. At Patterson Health Center, the Medicare reimbursement for dialysis services results in an average write-off of 70% of the total cost of care. This significant gap between reimbursement and actual costs is a common challenge for healthcare providers, particularly those in rural or underserved areas.
The dialysis unit, which opened in May 2024, became a reality thanks to the generosity of local donors and the Harper County Health Foundation. The Foundation launched a community fundraising campaign for the program and matched donor contributions dollar for dollar. Their matched portion was provided directly to Patterson Health Center to support the purchase of three Tablo dialysis machines. To date, none of the donor contributions have been spent, and the Foundation will be communicating with donors to offer options on how they would like their contributions to be used moving forward.
In just one year, three patients received life-sustaining dialysis treatment locally, without the need to travel to distant facilities. The program offered not only convenience but comfort, dignity, and a stronger quality of life.
“We know this news may be disappointing to many, and we understand the impact it will have,” Teaff said. “So many people in our community stepped up to help make dialysis care possible, and thanks to that generosity, dialysis treatment was available close to home for a period of time. That’s something we can all be proud of.”
The Harper County Health Foundation, while not involved in the dialysis program’s operations, was instrumental in getting it off the ground through the community campaign and matching support.
“We are deeply saddened that the program is coming to an end,” said Jason Wolff, President of the Harper County Health Foundation. “The Foundation exists to support healthcare in Harper County, and we were proud to be a part of launching this service.”
Patterson Health Center staff are working directly with affected patients and families to help them transition to alternative dialysis providers and ensure continuity of care.
Both Patterson Health Center and the Harper County Health Foundation remain committed to strengthening rural healthcare access, and encourage community members to contact their elected representatives and urge them to support improved Medicare reimbursement for rural hospitals. Your voice can help protect essential healthcare services in communities like Harper County.
Contact Your Representatives:
U.S. Representative Ron Estes
estes.house.gov | (202) 225-6216 | 2234 Rayburn HOB, Washington D.C., 20515
U.S. Senator Jerry Moran
moran.senate.gov | (202) 224-6521 | Dirksen Senate Office Building, Room 521, Washington, D.C. 20510
U.S. Senator Roger Marshall
marshall.senate.gov | (202) 224-4774 | Russell Senate Office Building, Suite 479A, 2 Constitution Ave. NE, Washington, D.C. 20002
KS Senator Larry Alley
[email protected] | (785) 296-7370 | Room 441-E, Kansas State Capitol Building, 300 SW 10th St., Topeka, KS 66612
KS Representative Kyle Hoffman
[email protected] | (785) 296-7643 | Room 481-W, Kansas State Capitol Building, 300 SW 10th St., Topeka, KS 66612