When Madera Community Hospital closed in January 2023, our community lost more than a building; we lost access to care, to security and to peace of mind. Families were forced to drive more than an hour for emergency services and over 900 healthcare workers lost their jobs. It was a heartbreaking moment for Madera County—but I knew that we had the power to write a different story.
When I first learned that Madera Community Hospital was on the verge of closure, I worked quickly to secure a $5 million appropriation and worked to expedite Medi-Cal reimbursement payments totaling more than $4 million from health plans for the hospital’s use. Unfortunately, more needed to be done and quickly.
I immediately worked with Assemblywoman Soria, local leaders, the Governor’s office, the Attorney General and members of the community to fight for a solution. Together, we created something extraordinary; a state-supported recovery effort that helped reopen Madera’s hospital and became a model for 16 other struggling hospitals across California. The Distressed Hospital Loan Program, jointly authored by Assemblymember Soria and I, was funded with $150 million to provide loans to nonprofit and public hospitals facing serious financial hardship.
In April 2024, we secured a $57 million loan from the program to bring Madera Community Hospital back to life. The resurrection of the hospital is a shining example of what happens when government listens, communities organize and people come together to serve the common good.
The hospital’s return is a renewal of a promise: access to healthcare is a right, not a privilege, transparency, accountability must guide how every public dollar is spent, and partnerships between elected officials and the communities we serve are the keys to lasting change. The people of Madera inspired this work—and they inspire me still.
I am proud to celebrate this victory with you. Together, we restored faith in what we can accomplish when we lead with purpose, compassion and unity.
