From Rural Hospitals to Life Sciences, a Q-Centrix Survey Identifies Potential Impacts and Uneven Readiness for Sweeping Healthcare Bill
CHICAGO, September 16, 2025 – When a sweeping piece of healthcare legislation is passed, uncertainty can ripple quickly through the industry. That’s exactly what’s happening with the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). While its potential impacts are still unfolding, healthcare leaders across hospitals, payers, and life sciences organizations are already bracing for potentially seismic changes to their operations, finances, and patient care delivery.
A new national survey from Q-Centrix—an MRO company—captures that unease. Nearly three-quarters (72%) of respondents voiced concern about OBBBA’s potential impact, with rural hospitals expressing the highest level of alarm (80%). More than half of those rural hospital leaders went so far as to cite facility closures as their top fear; a scenario that could leave entire communities without access to local care.
For non-rural hospitals, the top worries were care delays (45%) and loss of Medicaid revenue (42%), while life sciences organizations pointed to financial strain (63%) and potential shifts in R&D strategy (63%).
“This is more than just policy talk—it’s the kind of change that could disrupt the entire healthcare ecosystem,” said Eric Crites, SVP of Enterprise Partnerships at Q-Centrix. “The survey results highlight both the urgency and the uneven levels of preparedness across the industry.”
Indeed, the preparedness gap is stark: only half (51%) of respondents feel ready to manage OBBBA’s potential effects. Payers are the most prepared (66%), with some starting planning efforts over a year ago. Non-rural hospitals lag far behind, with just 43% feeling prepared and only 5% having started early planning.
If there’s one common thread among organizations planning to act, it’s their reliance on clinical data. Eight in ten (81%) of those making changes said they will use clinical data to inform or assess their strategies. For rural hospitals, where the stakes may be the highest, that number jumps to 100%.
“It’s no surprise that clinical data is at the center of preparedness,” shared Crites. “Clinical data has always held immense value, and in a constantly evolving environment, it remains the industry’s most reliable source of truth—helping leaders cut through uncertainty, test strategies, and make decisions grounded in reality.”
Other key findings include:
- Impact expectations: 77% believe OBBBA will affect their organization; payers are most likely to anticipate a major impact (58%).
- Timing matters: Payers lead in early planning (25% started over a year ago) vs. 5% for non-rural hospitals.
- Action plans: 57% are planning changes in response; payers lead (75%), rural hospitals trail (40%).
As debate over the bill’s impact on healthcare continues, this survey—along with consumer perspectives on tariff effects—highlights a crucial point: most healthcare leaders anticipate significant challenges in the days ahead, with care delays, financial strain, and even facility closures at the top of their concerns.
You can find additional survey findings here. Originally shared on PR Newswire.
Survey conducted on July 28, 2025, via SurveyMonkey’s opt-in panel, targeting senior managers and executives in the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries. Respondents comprised those from non-rural hospitals and health systems (63%), rural hospitals (15%), life sciences organizations (11%), and payer organizations (13%). Total complete responses: 103.
Media Contact:
Cheri Hoffman
Senior Director, Marketing Communications
choffman@q-centrix.com
