In a significant move to protect the health and safety of California’s most remote communities, Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale) has championed a massive investment of $233,639,308 in critical rural healthcare funding.
This initiative addresses the long-standing disparities between urban and rural medical access, providing a much-needed lifeline to Northern California’s “North State.”
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Doug LaMalfa Secures Over $233 Million for Rural Healthcare
For residents in counties like Butte, Glenn, Lassen, and Modoc, a trip to the doctor isn’t always a short drive across town—it can be an hours-long journey.
This new funding aims to bridge that gap by modernizing facilities, retaining essential staff, and ensuring that emergency care remains available where it is needed most.
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A Targeted Lifeline for Rural Hospitals
The cornerstone of this funding is a strategic effort to stabilize small-town medical centers that have faced mounting financial pressures. Rural hospitals often operate on razor-thin margins, and the recent closure of facilities like Glenn Medical Center has underscored the vulnerability of these local institutions.
- Critical Access Restoration: A portion of the funding and legislative effort is dedicated to restoring “Critical Access Hospital” status for facilities that were unfairly penalized by bureaucratic shifts in mileage calculations.
- Infrastructure & Modernization: Grants and low-interest loans will be directed toward upgrading outdated medical equipment and expanding emergency departments to meet modern seismic and safety codes.
- Workforce Support: Funds are allocated to help rural clinics recruit and retain physicians, nurses, and specialists—a perennial challenge in California’s more isolated regions.
The Impact on Local Communities
The $233 million investment isn’t just a number on a ledger; it represents tangible improvements for North State families. Key beneficiaries include:
| Facility / Region | Impact of Funding |
| Glenn Medical Center | Targeted for reopening efforts and status restoration. |
| Mayers Memorial Hospital | Major infrastructure expansions and diagnostic upgrades. |
| Modoc County Clinics | Expansion of dental and primary care services in Alturas and Canby. |
| Tribal Health Centers | Support for Karuk and Greenville Rancheria healthcare services. |
“Access to healthcare shouldn’t be determined by your zip code,” LaMalfa stated during a recent briefing. “By securing these funds, we are ensuring that our farmers, ranchers, and small-town families have the same high-quality emergency and primary care as those in the big cities.”
Beyond the Clinic: The “Secure Rural Schools” Connection
In addition to direct medical grants, Congressman LaMalfa has successfully led the charge to reauthorize Secure Rural Schools (SRS) payments.
While often associated with education, SRS funding is a vital component of the rural safety net, funding the roads and infrastructure that emergency medical services (EMS) rely on to reach patients in crisis.
Looking Ahead
As Northern California continues to recover from devastating wildfire seasons and the economic ripples of the last few years, this $233 million investment stands as a foundational pillar for regional resilience.
The focus now shifts to implementation, ensuring that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the USDA distribute these funds efficiently to the front-line clinics that need them most.
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