Madera Community Hospital
January 7, 2023 - WASHINGTON – Congressman Jim Costa led a letter with Congressman-elect John Duarte urging the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra, and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure to declare a local health emergency and allocate additional federal resources to help the people of Madera affected by the closure of Madera Community Hospital (MCH) after filing for bankruptcy.
Madera Community Hospital provided services to a population of 64,000 – along with rural parts of Madera County. It equipped 103 critical care beds along with three rural clinics. The community benefited from its accessible maternity services, emergency room, and ambulatory services. After operating in the red for several years, Trinity Health attempted to acquire MCH. But failed to proceed with its ownership, sending the community into disarray.
“The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has existing statutory authority to intervene. Section 319 of the Public Health Service (PHS) Act (42 U.S.C. §247d) provides HHS “broad legal authorities to provide assistance to states and local entities,” including assisting localities with developing and implementing a response to meet health emergencies or problems.
In addition to declaring a Public Health Emergency, you could activate the U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS) Commissioned Corps and select members of the Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) to ensure that those in Madera are receiving care. In addition, 42 U.S.C. §247d-3b gives you the authority to award competitive grants or cooperative agreements to help entities improve surge capacity and enhance community preparedness. This authority will allow you to assist the surrounding hospitals as they face the current surge of patients.”
Costa previously represented California’s 16th Congressional District, which included Madera, worked closely with Madera Community Hospital leadership, and local and state partners to help maintain access to the full services this hospital provides in Madera.
On November 2022, Costa was elected to represent California's 21st Congressional District, and Congressman-Elect Duarte was elected to represent California’s 13th Congressional District, which now includes Madera.
A copy of the letter can be found here.
Source: Congressman Jim Costa
Related: California Attorney General Issues Statement on Trinity Health's Decision to Leave Madera County Residents In Need - Abandoned the Sale of Madera Community Hospital
