Rural Health Care

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.  

Transformation Program Stakeholder Survey Due Tomorrow

What’s happening: Hospitals and rural health partners should make every effort to complete the Department of Health Care Access and Information’s (HCAI’s) survey on the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) — a $50 billion fund enacted by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act — before tomorrow’s deadline.  

CHA Urges Congress to Protect Patient Care During Funding Negotiations

What’s happening: With federal funding negotiations underway ahead of the end of the fiscal year on Sept. 30, CHA wrote to California’s congressional delegation urging action on key hospital priorities: disproportionate share hospital payments, sequestration, rural hospital care, telehealth flexibilities, site-neutral payment policies, and insurer accountability.