Medicare

About Medicare

The federal Medicare program is an essential pillar of the state’s health care system, supporting more than 6 million Californians over the age of 65 and younger Californians with disabilities. One in five hospitals is at risk of closing, in part because Medicare reimbursement rates are far lower than the cost of providing care. It’s essential that future federal Medicare policy protects patient care.

Key Priorities for 2026 Shaping Up

As your association looks to the coming year to advance policies that support the critical services California hospitals provide, three key areas are coming into sharper focus: