Rural hospitals that were struggling financially even before the pandemic are running out of COVID aid

A hospital patient looking out the window in his room. (Credit: Thomas Barwick—Getty Images)

Less than two years after opening a state-of-the-art $26 million hospital in Leadville, Colo., St. Vincent Health nearly ran out of money.

Hospital officials said in early December that without a cash infusion they would be unable to pay their bills or meet payroll by the end of the week.