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.
2027 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.
State Distributes $166 Million Via Rural Health Transformation Program
What’s happening: The state has distributed more than $166 million in California Rural Health Transformation Program funding to 108 organizations across 45 counties, including dozens of hospitals.
Final Rural Health Transformation Grant Closes Monday
What’s happening: Applications for the California Rural Health Transformation program’s final grant funding opportunity — Workforce Development Recruitment and Retention — are closing on Aug. 31 at 3 p.m. (PT).
CMS Issues Guidance for CAHs on Evaluating Rural/Distance Compliance
What’s happening: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued updated guidance — effective Sept. 20 — on its procedures for evaluating critical access hospital (CAH) compliance with rural and distance requirements.
Tomorrow Marks Deadline to Apply for EHR Modernization Grant
What’s happening: Applications for the California Rural Health Transformation (CalRHT) Program’s Electronic Health Record (EHR) Modernization grant will close on Aug. 21 at 3 p.m. (PT).
Aug. 14 Application Deadline for Two CalRHT Grant Opportunities
What’s happening: Applications for two grant funding opportunities from the California Rural Health Transformation (CalRHT) program — Accelerator Partners and Expand and Support Rural Workforce Capacity — will close on Aug. 14.
Applications Open for CalRHT Workforce Development Grant
What’s happening: The California Rural Health Transformation (CalRHT) Workforce Development Recruitment and Retention (WDRR) grant funding opportunity is now open for applications through Aug. 31.
Register for CalRHT Workforce Development Grant Funding Webinar
What’s happening: The California Rural Health Transformation (CalRHT) team is hosting a webinar at 1 p.m. (PT) on Aug. 4 on the grant funding opportunity for the Workforce Development Recruitment and Retention (WDRR) Program. The application period for this grant is July 31-Aug. 31.
CalRHT Grant Applications Open, Partnership Assessment Tool Now Available
What’s happening: The Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI) has released details on several new funding opportunities under the California Rural Health Transformation (CalRHT) Program.
HRSA Delays Withdrawal of Health Professional Shortage Area Designations
What’s happening: The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has announced that health professional storage areas (HPSAs) placed in a “proposed for withdrawal” status will maintain their current HPSA status through approximately July 1, 2027.