HCAI is committed to expanding equitable access to health care for all Californians—ensuring every community has the health workforce they need, safe and reliable health care facilities, and health information that can help make care more effective and affordable.
The Small and Rural Hospital Relief Program (SRHRP) aims to provide grants to small, rural, and Critical Access hospitals to assist in funding seismic safety compliance projects. This initiative is in response to the requirements set by the Alfred E. Alquist Hospital Facilities Seismic Safety Act, ensuring hospitals can remain operational and safely serve the public post-earthquake. The SRHRP focuses on supporting hospitals in meeting safety standards, preserving critical healthcare access for communities they serve, especially those facing significant financial burdens due to seismic safety requirements, located in Medically Underserved Areas, Medically Underserved Populations, and Health Professional Shortage Areas. Funding for the program is sourced from a portion of the California Electronic Cigarette Excise Tax, with current projections estimating available distributions to be between $2-3 million annually.