Study says Medicaid cuts put Sharon Hospital at risk of possible closure

Sharon Hospital
File photo
SHARON — A University of North Carolina study listed Sharon Hospital among rural hospitals endangered by potential funding cuts to Medicaid.
The study by The Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research at UNC identified 338 rural hospitals nationwide where care could be adversely impacted by cutbacks in the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.” Sharon Hospital was the sole Connecticut facility in the list.
Two criteria were considered: hospitals in the top 10% of Medicaid payer mix of rural hospitals across the country; and hospitals that experienced three consecutive years of negative margins. Sharon Hospital was included in the latter.
“This means these rural hospitals face greater risk of being forced to stop providing some services, converting, or closing,” the study stated.
A group of U.S. senators shared the data with President Donald Trump (R) in the form of a letter dated June 12. Senators Edward Markey (D-Mass.), Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), Jeffrey Merkley (D-Ore.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) signed the letter, which states, “Rural hospitals will not get paid for the services they are required by law to provide to patients. In turn, rural hospitals will face deeper financial strain that could lead to negative health outcomes for the communities they serve.”
Following several years of financial struggle, Sharon Hospital’s parent company, Nuvance Health, completed a merger with Northwell Health in 2025. Northwell is the largest private health care provider in New York State.
“We appreciate elected officials shining a light on this report as it relates to new legislation and cuts that would be devastating to rural hospitals. It is no secret that Sharon Hospital has been struggling financially for some time – largely due to underpayment from government and other payers. These new cuts only exacerbate the situation. We are hopeful that the benefits of our recent affiliation with Northwell Health will provide some stability as we weather this latest storm.” Daniel DeBarba, chief financial officer of Nuvance Health, part of Northwell.
Sharon Hospital President Christina McCulloch said although the cuts would “add strain to our financial stability,” she clarified, “The hospital is here to serve the community. I don’t want the community to not use our services that we have for fear that the hospital is closing. All of our services are open.”
Since 2018, the community organization Save Sharon Hospital has advocated to maintain full-service medical care in the Northwest Corner.
SSH President Lydia Kruge Moore shared, “It is deeply troubling that vital health care services remain at risk in rural communities like ours. Save Sharon Hospital is incredibly grateful that Northwell Health has recognized the importance of rural health care and has committed to maintaining all services at Sharon Hospital.”
Habitat for Humanity assisted in the construction and sale of this house at 14 Rudd Pond Road for $392,000.
MILLERTON — Official Dutchess County property transfers for the four months ending in May are fascinating from the sale of the former Presbyterian Church on Main Street for $420,000 to the $300,000 sale of 8.3 acres of the historic Perotti farm for $300,000 where major barn restoration is now underway.
Actively listed properties at the end of July include 14 parcels of land ranging in price from $60,000 for a five-acre lot to six parcels over a million dollars. 15 single family homes are on the market including an $11,750,000 estate on Moadock Road and four village homes for under $500,000.
Residential
14 Rudd Pond Road — 3 bedroom/2 bath home on .64 acres sale recorded in March for $392,000 to Anthony M. Macagnone.
81 Rudd Pond Road — 3 bedroom/2 bath home on .45 acres recorded in April for $360,300 to Sara Whitney Laser.
926 Smithfield Road — Historic house and barns on 8.31 acres sale recorded in May for $300,000 to Colonial House & Barn LLC.
5408 Route 22 — 3 bedroom/2 bath home on 5.38 acres sale recorded in May for $465,000 to Erich McEnroe.
The former Presbyterian Church on Main Street in the Village of Millerton was purchased in May for $420,000 and then pained grey.Christine Bates
Commercial
1 Smith Court, Village of Millerton — Office building sale recorded in March for $825,000 to OneJohnStreet LLC.
58 Main Street, Village of Millerton — Sale of former church recorded in May for $420,000 to 58 Main Street LLC.
5546 Route 22 — Sale of former restaurant on 2 acres recorded in May for $70,000 to Haithem Oueslati Trustee.
Land
State Line Road (#789358) — Sale recorded of 20.82 acres of vacant residential land in March for $150,000 to Elliott Squared LLC.
148 Morse Hill — Sale recorded of 30.03 acres of vacant productive farm land in 5 parcels in March for $800,000 to Thorne Water LLC.
*Town of North East and Village of Millerton property transfers from March through May not previously reported as sales in The Millerton News are sourced from Dutchess County Real Property Office monthly reports for March through May. Details on property from Dutchess Parcel Access. Compiled by Christine Bates, Real Estate Advisor with William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty, Licensed in Connecticut and New York.
MILLERTON — Heavy rain brought down trees on Park Avenue, South Center Street and Century Boulevard, causing blackouts across the village on Friday, July 25.
The Millerton Moviehouse cancelled film showings for the afternoon following the outages, as stated in a release sent out to Moviehouse supporters over email Friday afternoon.
Village Clerk Lisa Cope said the downed trees landed on power lines, causing localized blackouts for many village residents and businesses between 3 and 6 p.m. Friday evening.
Central Hudson crews cleared the trees and restored power to the village that evening.