Assemblyman Brian Dahle says hospitals across the state are in trouble….In 2012, the state budget agreement reduced Medi-Cal reimbursement rates for hospital-based skilled nursing facilities. The budget bill also made those cuts retroactive to June 1, 2011.

click to hear Assemblyman Dahle

The  cuts are already law but Nevada County’s Assemblyman Brian Dahle says the Governor and the State Department of Health Care Services have the authority to modify these cuts. He says we “need to make our voices heard to make sure they do not bankrupt our hospitals in Plumas, Lassen, Sierra, Nevada and Modoc Counties.”

click to hear Assemblyman Dahle

Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital  closed  its 17 bed Transitional Care Unit last month in response to   Medicare    no longer  covering the cost of providing skilled nursing care in an acute care hospital facility.
Closing the Transitional Care Unit  left  24 Sierra Nevada Memorial hospital employees out of a job.  Assemblyman Dahle says he is  working with   colleagues in the legislature to take action to rescind the cuts to Medical and to restore reimbursement to fair levels that will keep our small rural hospitals in business.  He ‘s asking local residents to Please support our local hospitals and communities by taking a stand against these ill-advised cuts to our hospitals.  Dahle says To lose our rural hospitals would be devastating to all of the rural and mountain communities. Individuals in rural California should not be shortchanged or treated any differently than other Californians.  Dahle is urging people  to let the Governor’s office know how important rural health care is to your community by calling the Governors Office  today at (916) 445-2841.