One year after Boone Health and Audrain County leaders signed a Letter of Intent to bring a critical access hospital back to Mexico — a city in central Missouri — the facility remains closed. The original hospital shut down in 2022. So why the delay? Boone Health CEO Brady Dubois, visiting Mexico on Monday, told Missourinet the biggest hurdle is understanding all the variables involved.
“When you take the amount of funds out of the Medicaid system with the Medicaid population, not only in this county but across the state, things looked different six months ago,” said Dubois. “Here in Audrain County, you’re looking at 27%, give or take a percentage or two, the citizens are on Medicaid.”
Dubois told Missourinet that much has changed since the project began, from Medicaid funding to construction costs.
“On the higher end, if you go traditional construction, you know steel beams, all of that, you’re probably looking at close to $80 million,” said Dubois. “But if you look at some other options that could be potentially as low as $40 million, but it would be different construction techniques and things like that still meet all the codes, but it would look different.”
After months of searching for a new strategic partner, Boone Health has narrowed its options to three. Dubois said a final decision is expected in November.
“November the 23rd and 24th. All three are incredibly strong. They have experience in critical access hospitals, community-based hospitals,” said Dubois. “When we have discussions with our partners, we do discuss from the start you know here in Audrain as a key priority for us.”
Boone Health has been in a due diligence phase since signing the Letter of Intent with Audrain County leaders on October 14, 2024. Dubois now estimates it will take about two more years before the new critical access hospital in Mexico, Missouri, can open its doors.
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