About Rural Health Care
California’s rural hospitals are essential lifelines for over 2 million residents, providing critical health care services and acting as economic anchors in their communities. However, these hospitals face severe financial challenges, with more than half operating at a loss. This financial strain has led to the reduction or elimination of vital services, such as obstetrics and cancer treatments. The California Hospital Association is actively advocating for immediate financial support for the development of sustainable funding models to ensure that all Californians, regardless of location, have access to the health care they need and deserve.
The California Critical Access Hospital Network (CCAHN) creates collaborative working relationships among California’s critical access hospitals to strengthen their ability to care for their communities through sharing resources, education, and innovation.
2026 Rural Health Care Symposium
Join us in Sacramento at the Kimpton Sawyer Hotel for a unique symposium dedicated to California’s rural hospital leaders. Together, we’ll explore the specific challenges rural hospitals face and uncover valuable insights on a range of critical health care topics.
CMS Awards California $234M in Rural Transformation Grant Funding
Positive News and Looming Threats from the Nation’s Capital
Federal lawmakers are back in Washington, D.C., this week with just over three weeks left to finish funding the government before current spending laws run out on Jan. 30.
D.C. Download: The Good, the Bad, and the Unknown
Congressional votes to end the federal government shutdown have brought several pieces of good news for health care. Other developments out of Washington, D.C., have more mixed results.
State Submits Application for Funding to Support Rural Health Transformation
This week, the state submitted its application for California’s share of $50 billion in funding available through the new federal Rural Health Transformation Program.