Assemblywoman Marie Waldron has been a tireless advocate for improving access to healthcare in rural areas. Millions of Californians live in Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs), with many of these areas located in rural parts of the state. With her work in Sacramento, Assemblywoman Waldron has brought to light the serious obstacles that rural residents face when trying to access healthcare. These include provider shortages, hospital closures, higher maternal morbidity and mortality rates, and limited access to treatments for opioid disorders.

Assemblywoman Waldron has identified several areas in San Diego County located within the 75th Assembly District as HPSAs, including Campo and Barona/Moreno in East County, and Pala in North County. She recognizes that lack of access to healthcare is often compounded by the closure of rural hospitals, and she has been working to find solutions to these challenges.

One solution that Assemblywoman Waldron supports is the creation of more rural clinics. She recently participated in a meeting at the San Ysidro Health Clinic in Campo, one of over 20 San Ysidro clinic and program sites located throughout the county. The San Ysidro Campo clinic serves residents of the Mountain Empire in southeast San Diego County, an area identified as an HPSA.

As Vice Chair of the Assembly Health Committee, Assemblywoman Waldron has been doing everything she can to encourage and support healthcare providers like San Ysidro throughout California. Her work is crucial to ensuring that residents of underserved rural communities can receive the care they need.

The lack of Medication Assisted Treatments (MAT) for opioid use disorders is another big problem in rural areas. Access to MAT is often limited because of the general lack of healthcare resources in rural areas and the long driving distances involved that limit effective and timely adherence. Assemblywoman Waldron recognizes that MAT is considered the gold standard for treating opioid abuse, and she has been working to increase access to these treatments for those in rural areas.

With the closure of at least 10 rural hospitals throughout the state between 2006 and 2023, many existing hospitals are now in financial distress, and more closures may occur. Assemblywoman Waldron’s work is essential to ensuring that rural areas have the healthcare resources they need to provide quality care to their residents.

Assemblywoman Marie Waldron has been a champion for improving access to healthcare in rural areas. Her hard work and dedication to this cause are commendable, and her efforts are making a real difference in the lives of millions of Californians. With more support from lawmakers like Assemblywoman Waldron, we can continue to make progress in ensuring that everyone has access to the healthcare they need, regardless of where they live.

Rural Healthcare Access

Marie Waldron, State Assemblymember  — Millions of Californians live in Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs), many located in rural parts of the state. Improving access to healthcare for those living in underserved areas has been a major focus for me in Sacramento.

The California Health Foundation notes that rural residents including tribal lands, are often confronted with serious obstacles when trying to access healthcare. These include provider shortages, hospital closures, higher maternal morbidity and mortality rates, and limited access to treatments for opioid disorders. Several areas in San Diego County located within the 75th Assembly District have been identified as HPSAs, including Campo and Barona/Moreno in East County, and Pala in North County.

Another big problem in rural areas is lack of Medication Assisted Treatments (MAT) for opioid use disorders. Considered the gold standard for treating opioid abuse, access to MAT is often limited because of the general lack of healthcare resources in rural areas and the long driving distances involved that limit effective and timely adherence.

Lack of access to healthcare is often compounded by closure of rural hospitals. Between 2006 and 2023, at least 10 rural hospitals have closed throughout the state. Many existing hospitals are now in financial distress, and more closures may occur.

One solution is more rural clinics. I recently participated in a meeting at the San Ysidro Health Clinic in Campo, one of over 20 San Ysidro clinic and program sites located throughout the county. San Ysidro’s Campo clinic serves residents of the Mountain Empire in southeast San Diego County — a region identified as a Health Professional Shortage Area.

As Vice Chair of the Assembly Health Committee, I will do everything I can to encourage and support healthcare providers like San Ysidro throughout California so that residents of underserved rural communities can receive the care they need.

Sincerely,
Marie Waldron
Assemblymember, 75th District

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