California Health and Safety Code

§ 124800

HSC § 124800 Effective Jan 1, 1996Div. 106 · Part 4 · Ch. 6

Statute text

The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:

(a)Rural hospitals serve as the “hub of health,” and through that role attract and retain in their communities physicians, nurses, and other primary care providers. Because of economies of scale compounded by reimbursement reforms, many rural hospitals will close before the end of this decade. This will result in the departure of primary care providers and the loss of emergency medical services both to residents and persons traveling through the area. The smallest and most remote facilities are at highest risk.

(b)The rural hospital is often one of the largest employers in the community. The closure of such a hospital means the loss of a source of employment. This has an economic impact beyond the health sector. Further, economic development of a rural area is, in part, tied to the existence of a hospital. People, for example, tend not to retire to areas where there is not reasonable access to physician and hospital-based services.

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Legislative history

Added by Stats. 1995, Ch. 415, Sec. 8. Effective January 1, 1996.