County Supervisor Hilda Solis, right, gets a tour of some of the emergency room facilities at Adventist Health White Memorial in Montebello. Solis allocated $1 million in Measure B funding to to help sustain emergency department services at the hospital.
Courtesy photo
Wave Staff Report
MONTEBELLO — County Supervisor Hilda Solis has allocated $1 million in Measure B funding to Adventist Health White Memorial in Montebello to help sustain emergency department services. The funding comes at a critical time, as federal policy changes threaten the financial stability of health care providers across the county.
“We know all too well that our hospitals play a vital role in the health and well-being of our most vulnerable residents,” Solis said. “This is more than just funding — for many, it will be a lifeline that ensures they can access critical health services during a time of uncertainty and financial instability.”
The allocation, made possible through a motion introduced last week by Solis, addresses the immediate fiscal challenges facing Adventist Health White Memorial, formerly known as Beverly Hospital. The facility serves Montebello and surrounding communities.
In July, the county Board of Supervisors approved a Department of Health Services board letter, which included the distribution of $20 million in one-time, unallocated Measure B funding. The funds were evenly divided across the five supervisorial districts to address urgent health care needs.
The decision followed growing concerns over sustained financial pressures and anticipated federal policy changes already affecting the fiscal health of local health systems.
“We are sincerely grateful to Supervisor Hilda Solis for her ongoing leadership and support of our mission to uplift and serve the most vulnerable,” said John Raffoul, president of Adventist Health White Memorial Montebello. “This generous funding will allow us to strengthen access to emergency care for our community — ensuring that high quality, compassionate care is close to home.”
According to the Greater San Gabriel Valley Community Health Snapshot in 2020, many residents in the region live long distances from available health care providers, creating significant barriers to access. Those challenges are compounded by the federal H.R. 1 legislation, passed on July 4, which includes nearly $1 trillion in cuts to Medicaid, potentially causing many Medi-Cal enrollees to lose access to health coverage.
Those access issues are further made worse by increased federal immigration enforcement, which discourages many immigrant communities from seeking preventive care due to fear of detainment or deportation. This growing mistrust, coupled with the effects of H.R. 1, is expected to result in greater reliance on emergency services as a primary source of health care.
“We’re in the fight to preserve health care access for the long haul, and we must be prepared,” Solis said. “Everyone should be able to receive the care they need without fear of immigration enforcement or uncertainty over whether their hospital will still be open. Today is a vital step toward ensuring that residents in the San Gabriel Valley will continue to have access to essential services.”
