CMS Decision Will End Inpatient Care at Glenn County’s Only Hospital on Oct. 21
A new CMS reading of the 35-mile rule stripped the facility’s critical access status, cutting revenue enough to make inpatient services unsustainable.
Overview
- The agency’s Aug. 13 letter upheld a recertification finding that Colusa Medical Center is 32 miles away, short of the 35-mile requirement.
- Hospital leaders say the loss of critical access status will eliminate about 40% of roughly $28 million in annual net revenue.
- Outpatient clinics will stay open, but about 150 employees are expected to lose jobs and staff resignations have already begun.
- Patients will be diverted to Colusa Medical Center or Chico’s Enloe Medical Center, and county ambulances expect longer out-of-county transports.
- Rep. Doug LaMalfa is consulting CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz and considering legislation to adjust mileage rules, though a timely fix remains uncertain.