Congressman Raul Ruiz Urges Governor Newsom to Prevent Imminent Closure of Palo Verde Hospital

Blythe, CA – Today, Congressman Dr. Raul Ruiz (CA-25) issued the following statement after sending a letter to Governor Gavin Newsom urging emergency action to prevent the closure of Palo Verde Hospital in Blythe, California:

 "Palo Verde Hospital, the only acute-care facility within 100 miles of Blythe, is facing closure today. That means shutting down emergency care, discharging critically ill patients, and leaving over 18,000 residents, and thousands more in surrounding rural areas, without access to lifesaving services.

 "This is a public health emergency. The closure of this hospital puts lives at risk and would leave a massive health care gap in one of the most underserved regions of our state. Patients will suffer. People will die.

"I’m calling on Governor Newsom to step in immediately with $4 million in emergency support to keep this hospital open. We need urgent action to stop this closure, protect lives, and give the hospital time to stabilize.

"As an emergency physician, I know what it means when care is out of reach. I will continue fighting to preserve access to rural health care and keep our hospitals open."

Read the letter, here.