About Rural Health Care
California’s nearly five dozen rural hospitals, including 37 critical access hospitals, provide care to more than 2 million people. They are lifelines and economic pillars for the communities they serve. Many of these hospitals are on the financial brink, reducing services just to stay open and facing the possibility of closure. These challenges place the most vulnerable populations at risk as Californians will have to travel great distances to get the care they need.
The California Critical Access Hospital Network (CCAHN) is a statewide organization that creates collaborative working relationships among California critical access hospitals to strengthen their ability to care for their communities through sharing resources, education, and innovation.
Rural Maternal Health Resources Available for Hospitals
What’s happening: The Health Resources and Services Administration has provided resources, including toolkits and webinar recordings, to support access to safe, high-quality maternity care in rural communities.
What else to know: The complete four-part webinar series is now available.
Hospital Leaders Discuss Financial Challenges with Legislators on Capitol Hill
What’s happening: Last week, California hospital and health system leaders convened in Washington, D.C. for the American Hospital Association (AHA) Annual Membership Meeting.
What else to know: Hospital and health system leaders participated in meetings on Capitol Hill with the California congressional delegation to advance CHA’s position on key advocacy priorities.
Big Week for State Health Policy Advocacy
This week, all four of CHA’s state advocacy priorities converged in Sacramento, with significant developments on each. Sharing a brief recap of this week’s activities and next steps.
Trinity Hospital
Trinity Hospital is owned by Mountain Communities Healthcare District and is located in Trinity County in Northern California. It has 25 acute care beds, 26 skilled-nursing beds, an 24-hour emergency room and operating room that provides many services including general surgical procedures, endoscopies, colonoscopies, laboratory, diagnostic imaging, CT and ultrasound, mobile mammography, physical therapy, skilled […]
Legislators to Consider Bill to Preserve Rural Health Care Services
SACRAMENTO (April 18, 2024) — Nearly 2 million people live in California’s rural communities, while many millions more visit these areas for relaxation and exploration. Yet, the lifesaving and life-changing hospital care residents and visitors alike count on is at risk of being lost.
CHA Aims Critical Access Hospital Social Media Campaign at Lawmakers
What’s happening: This week, CHA launched a social media campaign highlighting the challenges rural hospitals – particularly critical access hospitals – face and urging lawmakers to act so that rural health care is preserved.
What else to know: The campaign is intended to cultivate support for Senate Bill (SB) 1423 (Dahle, R-Bieber), which would provide additional financial help for California’s critical access hospitals (a concurrent budget effort is underway). CHA-sponsored SB 1423 will be heard in the Senate Health Committee on April 24.
Loan Forgiveness Maximum Increased for Physicians in Shortage Areas
What’s happening: The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has increased the maximum loan amount that can be forgiven for doctors who commit to practicing in a health professional shortage area.
What else to know: HRSA is accepting applications to participate in this year’s program through May 9 at 4:30 p.m. (PT).
Hospital Leaders Share Access Concerns with Lawmakers
What’s happening: CHA convened a gathering in Sacramento of critical access hospital (CAH) leaders, legislators, and staff this week in support of Senate Bill (SB) 1423 (Dahle, R-Bieber), which aims to stabilize health care services in rural, remote communities.
What else to know: On Tuesday, leaders from eight CAHs visited the offices of 12 lawmakers to convey the serious challenges they face keeping their doors open and the threat posed by the loss of hospital services in rural and underserved communities.
Leaders of Vulnerable Hospitals Deliver Straight Talk to Sacramento
Earlier this week, we worked with hospital leaders to connect directly with policymakers in Sacramento about one of the most critical threats to health care: the degradation and loss of hospital services in rural and underserved communities.
MedPAC to Develop Rural Hospital and Clinician Payment Workplan
What’s happening: The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) is developing a rural hospital and clinician payment policy workplan for 2024–25.
What else to know: The March MedPAC meeting included discussion to inform a future recommendation to Congress related to rural hospitals.