MCH receives much-needed lifeline to reopen

Sen. gives grants to MCH

SACRAMENTO — Earlier this year, Sen. Anna M. Caballero (D-Merced), Speaker Robert Rivas (D-Salinas) and Assemblywoman Esmeralda Soria (D-Merced) announced the passage of The Distressed Hospital Loan Program (SB/AB 112). The loan program was authored in response to the imminent closure of dozens of hospitals across the state.

In response to the loan program, California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced the loan awards for the Distressed Hospital loan program, and Madera Community Hospital and Hazel Hawkins were two of the hospitals awarded a zero-interest loan as a lifeline to help Madera Community Hospital reopen.

“Madera Community Hospital, which has been closed since December 2022 and filed for bankruptcy in March 2023, will receive a $2 million bridge loan to cover basic operational costs for the facility while Adventist Health, the hospital’s proposed administrator, provides a comprehensive hospital turnaround plan. Once the plan is provided, and approved, Madera Community Hospital can be eligible for an additional $50 million loan from the Distressed Hospital Loan Program,” said Newsom in a release.