This is part of a series of articles that appeared in the Leader-Telegram that reflects on the first six months since the HSHS and Prevea withdrawals in the Chippewa Valley.
EAU CLAIRE — The closures of the Hospital Sisters Health System and Prevea medical facilities in western Wisconsin caught both patients and employees off-guard.
Beyond the increased travel times and disruption of care patients have experienced while seeking new providers, many former HSHS and Prevea patients have reported an additional financial burden because the closures have eliminated facilities that were previously considered “in-network,” leading to higher out-of-pocket costs for their healthcare needs…