Becker's Healthcare January 8, 2026
As federal and state budget pressures mount, California hospital leaders are issuing an increasingly stark warning: safety‑net hospitals are nearing a breaking point under the weight of Medi‑Cal cuts, regulatory mandates and shrinking reimbursement.
Chris Van Gorder, CEO of San Diego-based Scripps Health, didn’t mince words in an interview with Becker’s Hospital Review.
“If we can’t keep hospitals open, emergency departments close, and entire communities lose access to care. We may not be able to serve everyone,” he said. “We haven’t made those decisions yet. I’ve raised the issue with our board, saying difficult decisions could be ahead, but I’m not ready to make recommendations.”
The stark comments come as California grapples with an $18 billion budget deficit — significantly...
Today's Sponsors
Today's Sponsor