Pictured: SMCH CEO Linn Block with District 7 Rep. Mike Sexton.
Iowa healthcare leaders, including Stewart Memorial Community Hospital (SMCH) CEO Linn Block, gathered at the Iowa State Capitol on March 6 for the Iowa Hospital Association’s (IHA) annual Hospital Day on the Hill. The event served as a platform for discussing crucial issues in rural healthcare with legislators. Block met with District 7 State Representative Mike Sexton to address concerns such as postpartum Medicaid coverage, violence against hospital employees, and overall sustainability. Block, a well-known figure in rural Iowa healthcare, emphasized the significance of ongoing legislative discussions, recognizing their potential impact on numerous Iowans and healthcare facilities. According to the IHA, 140 hospitals closed their doors across the U.S. in just the last decade, leading some Americans to travel significant distances for care. Block stressed the importance of solidarity in addressing the accessibility and affordability of healthcare in rural areas. Block says, “At SMCH, we’re able to provide an incredible variety of acute and specialty care, but many small communities are not so fortunate. It’s critical we stand together in addressing the accessibility and affordability of healthcare in rural areas.” SMCH in Lake City is a Critical Access Hospital with a staff of over 250 that serves Calhoun, Carroll, Sac, Pocahontas, and other surrounding counties.