Glenn Medical Center, a 25-bed hospital in Willows, Calif., is on the verge of losing its “critical access hospital” designation due to a geographic classification dispute with CMS. Hospital leaders warn the move could force the closure of the hospital’s inpatient and emergency services as early as next year, according to Cal Matters.
Six things to know:
1. In April, CMS notified the hospital that it no longer meets the federal geographic requirement for CAH eligibility, which mandates that hospitals be located more than 35 miles from the nearest facility via primary roads, or more than 15 miles via mountainous or secondary roads, according to the report.
2. CMS cited Colusa Medical Center as being 32 miles south of Glenn Medical Center — just three miles shy of the threshold. However, hospital leaders and local officials contest this assessment, stating the commonly used and more reliable route spans 35.7 miles, which would meet the requirement.
3. Hospital leaders argue the loss of CAH status would jeopardize access for Glenn County’s 30,000 residents, many of whom are low-income, elderly or lack reliable transportation, according to Cal Matters. Roughly 40% of residents rely on Medicare or Medicaid, and 12% live below the poverty line.
4. The CAH designation provides enhanced financial support, including Medicare reimbursement at 101% of costs for inpatient and outpatient services, compared to 82% for most general acute care hospitals, according to the report. It also grants regulatory flexibilities — for example, Glenn Medical Center does not currently have a fully serviceable operating room, and upgrading it would be cost-prohibitive without CAH funding.
5. If the designation is revoked, the hospital will have until April 23, 2026, to reclassify under a different Medicare provider type. Still, hospital officials say that without CAH support, emergency and inpatient services would likely shut down by spring 2025, though outpatient services such as clinics, labs, imaging and rehabilitation would remain available.
6. Glenn Medical Center has appealed to U.S. Rep. Doug LaMalfa to intervene. While the issue remains under review by CMS, the hospital is also asking for support from local agencies, businesses, healthcare partners and community members, urging them to submit letters of support in an effort to overturn the decision.
“For 25 years Glenn Medical Center has held critical access status serving as the only hospital in Glenn County and a vital healthcare safety net for our rural region,” the hospital said in a statement. “We are asking for public support to help CMS recognize the practical and human consequences of their decision.”
Becker’s has reached out to the hospital and will update this story as more information becomes available.
