When someone you love ends up in the ER, healthcare isn't political, it’s personal. It’s the child who falls off a bike, the expectant mother going into labor sooner than expected, the spouse whose chest tightens without warning. In those moments—even with insurance, even with a nearby hospital—we are vulnerable. Proposed federal cuts to healthcare for millions of Californians would strip access to healthcare institutions and turn these vulnerable moments into moments of helplessness. While those who lead our federal government defund healthcare, our local actions demonstrate a fundamentally different approach: protecting it.
Here in San Diego County, we understand what’s at stake. Earlier this year, Palomar Health, California’s largest public healthcare district, faced a crisis that nearly led to a default on a critical state loan and the potential closure of its two public hospitals. Palomar serves over 850,000 San Diego County residents and houses the only public maternity ward in North County. Since 2020, Palomar has navigated multiple setbacks, including pandemic-induced financial strain, a disruptive cyberattack, and controversial management changes that transferred control away from its democratically elected board. By 2024, Palomar faced a staggering $165 million operational loss, carried over $700 million in bond debt, and was at risk of loan default; a scenario that could trigger bondholders withdrawing support and a legitimate risk of bankruptcy.
Recognizing the gravity of the situation, I took swift action in the legislature, leading an effort with legislative and budget leaders, regional representatives, policy committee chairs, healthcare advocates and experts, the State Treasurer, and the Governor’s office. Together, we secured a vital extension of Palomar’s State loan to ensure the region continues to have access to health care. It is not a bailout. It is a bridge, one that keeps the hospital doors open and protects care for the nearly one million members of our community who rely on it. Importantly, the extension ensures proper oversight by requiring Palomar to share relevant financial documents with the State Treasurer whenever requested.
In stark contrast, the federal government has embraced a different set of priorities. Instead of safeguarding healthcare, congressional leaders are advancing proposals that would drastically reduce Medi-Cal coverage for up to 3.4 million Californians, slash funding for preventive care, and significantly cut reimbursements for hospitals. These proposed policies would remove over $30 billion from California’s healthcare system, causing hospital closures, reduced services, crowded emergency rooms, and rising medical debt across the state. And it’s not just access under attack. This administration is also slashing funding for the very institutions that help train future providers and drive medical innovation, undermining the research and development that help our system discover, improve, and deliver effective treatments.
The recent closure of Madera’s hospital in 2023 is a stark reminder of what happens to a community when healthcare is neglected and a hospital it relies on closes. Entire communities lost immediate access to essential medical services, forcing the state to step in later with a costly $57 million loan to reopen the facility. I was determined not to let that happen in our backyard, and the proactive intervention I led protected access to healthcare and did so in a fiscally responsible manner.
Our community deserves access to healthcare and responsible governance. That’s what I’ve focused on since day one as your State Assemblymember. I will continue to prioritize the health and well-being of our residents because representation means preserving, not dismantling, the healthcare we all rely upon.
Dr. Darshana Patel represents the 76th Assembly District, which includes the cities of Escondido, San Marcos, and northern San Diego, alongside unincorporated areas nearby. Assemblymember Patel serves on the Assembly Health Committee, among others.
