Alpine Amador Butte Calaveras Colusa Del Norte El Dorado Glenn Imperial Inyo Lake Lassen Madera Mariposa

Mendocino Merced Modoc

Chair Kevin Cann, Mariposa County First Vice Chair Nate Beason, Nevada County Second Vice Chair Lee Adams, Sierra County Past Chair Kim Dolbow Vann, Colusa County

Mono

Napa Nevada Placer Plumas San Benito Shasta Sierra Siskiyou Sutter Tehama Trinity Tulare Tuolumne Yolo Yuba
President and CEO Greg Norton Executive Vice President Patricia J. Megason Chief Financial Officer Karl Dolk

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For More Information: Justin Caporusso (916) 447-4806 JCaporusso@rcrcnet.org

Measure to Curtail Medi-Cal Cuts to Skilled Nursing Facilities Supported by Rural Representatives
Restoring Cuts will Save Communities, Expand Access to Healthcare, and Strengthen the State Budget SACRAMENTO, CA August 14, 2013 The Rural County Representatives of California (RCRC) commends State Legislators for their support of Assembly Bill (AB) 900 (Alejo). AB 900, which would partially restore Medi-Cal funding for hospital-based skilled nursing services, is critical to the successful implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), and vital to rural counties that are struggling to maintain healthcare services. Cuts to hospital-based skilled nursing services dont save money, they actually cost more by eliminating the most efficient treatment, said Kevin Cann, RCRC Board Chair and Mariposa County Supervisor. The state will spend hundreds of millions more to deliver less effective care, at a time when millions of new residents will become eligible for services due to the ACA, continued Cann. RCRC is committed to working with legislators to enact AB 900 to provide effective healthcare, and protect scarce resources. These cuts to hospital based skilled nursing facilities are disproportionate and devastating to rural communities, where access to care is already limited. The cuts range from 25 to 40 percent, and are retroactive to 2011. As a result, some facilities are closing, and others cutting back drastically. For example, Mayers Memorial Hospital in Shasta County and Eastern Plumas Health Care in Plumas County have both halted new patient admissions. In San Benito County, Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital also is making potential plans to shut down a 70-bed facility. AB 900 is critical to Californias future, and we are pleased that it passed the Assembly by a 76-0 margin, as well as the Senate Health Committee by an 8-0 vote. Such overwhelming bipartisan support proves that AB 900 should be passed and signed by Governor Jerry Brown, Supervisor Cann concluded.

RURAL COUNTY REPRESENTATIVES OF CALIFORNIA 1215 K STREET, SUITE 1650 SACRAMENTO, CA 95814 PHONE: 916-447-4806 FAX: 916-448-3154

WEB: WWW.RCRCNET.ORG

AB 900 was sent to the Senate Appropriations Committee Suspense File on Monday, August 12 due to its fiscal impact. It is anticipated that the measure will be heard in that Committee prior to the close of the Legislative Session.
ABOUT RURAL COUNTY REPRESENTATIVES OF CALIFORNIA (RCRC) The Rural County Representatives of California (RCRC) is a thirty-three member county strong service organization that champions policies on behalf of Californias rural counties. The RCRC is dedicated to representing the collective unique interests of its membership, providing legislative and regulatory representation at the State and Federal levels, and providing responsible services for its members to enhance and protect the quality of life in rural California counties. To learn more about RCRC, visit rcrcnet.org and follow @RuralCounties on Twitter.

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