Health facilities: rural hospitals.
Existing law requires the State Department of Public Health to license and regulate health facilities, including general acute care hospitals, as defined. Existing law declares the intent of the Legislature to designate certain rural general acute care hospitals as primary health service hospitals, to facilitate the diversification of the small, rural hospital in various ways, such as serving as a focal point for the promotion of health and the delivery of health care services within the rural community. Existing law requires a general acute care hospital to meet requirements relating to the hospital’s location, proximity to another general acute care hospital, and number of acute care beds, to be eligible for designation as a primary health service hospital.
This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation to aid in the prevention of rural hospital closures.