National Health Policy Forum

Site Visit

Date: MARCH 29–31, 2005
Title: Exploring California's Rural Health System: From the Redwood Forests to the Baja Border
Authors: Eileen Salinsky & Jessamy Taylor
Summary: This three day site visit to California explored the state’s rural health system with a particular focus on the financial health of inpatient and outpatient providers and how that affects access to care. The role of telemedicine as a tool for expanding access was explored as well as the special needs of vulnerable populations such as farmworkers. Participants learned how state and federal regulation and payment policies and state budget deficits impact the viability of rural health systems.
Related
Materials:
For details on participants' impressions, see the Site Visit Report, published June 22, 2005.