With the Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies set to expire, the entire US health care economy is at risk of experiencing a severe downturn, potentially triggering a free-fall that could have far-reaching consequences for patients, providers, and the healthcare system as a whole.

Rural hospitals in the US may face increased risk of closure due to rising healthcare costs, as the enhanced subsidies for the Affordable Care Act (ACA) are set to expire on January 1. The subsidies, which were introduced in 2021 to make health insurance more...