As the CEO of Lompoc Valley Medical Center (LVMC), I am writing to express my concern regarding the news of potential cuts to Medicaid funding that could have significant deleterious effects for our hospital and community.
We are the only public hospital in Santa Barbara County, providing essential health-care services to our community. The closest hospital services to Lompoc are located 31 miles to the north and 52 miles to the south. Our Emergency Department alone serves over 25,000 visits annually. We also provide a wide range of inpatient and outpatient specialty care including advanced diagnostic imaging, robotic surgery, and obstetrical care.
Medicaid funding makes it possible for LVMC to provide health-care services that are indispensable to those in our Hospital District. LVMC has been able to expand patient access by establishing hospital-affiliated clinics and urgent care. Over the past six years our outpatient services have grown from five providers to 42 physicians representing more than a dozen specialties and 15 advanced practice providers (APPs). Our Lompoc Health Clinics are projected to provide more than 120,000 patient visits this year. It is imperative that LVMC remains viable and able to continue to provide these vital health-care services to preserve the health and safety of our residents in their own community.
It is also of note that LVMC is one of the largest employers in the local area, supporting more than 1,000 jobs in a variety of roles, from health-care providers to frontline staff. These jobs are a critical part of our local economy, ensuring families have stable employment. Santa Barbara County has the second-highest poverty rate out of the 58 counties in California. Furthermore, LVMC serves as the backup hospital for Vandenberg Space Force Base, ensuring emergency care for both military personnel and civilians in the event of any critical mishap or disaster.
Our reciprocal commitment to the community is underscored by the fact that, in 2005, the public overwhelmingly, with an 87 percent majority, voted to support LVMC’s growth by approving a bond measure to build our new hospital. This support demonstrates the community’s trust in LVMC as an essential component of the region’s health-care system. Our financial discipline has allowed us to run efficiently, with leadership covering multiple roles and maintaining low overhead costs while ensuring the highest quality of care. In addition, the diverse nature of the five-member elected Hospital Board ensures that decisions are made with both health-care needs and fiscal responsibility in mind.
In conclusion, severely reducing Medicaid funding would have devastating effects on the health, economy, and emergency preparedness of our community. LVMC is the backbone of health care for more than 60,000 residents, military personnel, and all those who rely on our services. We recognize the need for health-care reform and are ready to collaborate on solutions that focus on cost drivers and improving efficiency. This is central to our mission, values, and strategic goals.
We are collaborating with several political leaders, CenCal leadership, health-care and medical associations and more to raise awareness to key decision-makers in Washington, DC, urging them to consider the vital importance of preserving these funding streams for LVMC and our community. Your help in raising awareness and reaching out to elected officials and associations is crucial. We need your voice to advocate for the protection of critical funding and services that support our hospital and the health of our community.
Please join us in making sure our elected officials understand how important these resources are to the well-being of Lompoc and surrounding areas. Below are a few key decision-makers that you can reach out to in order to help raise awareness about our community’s health-care concerns.
The Honorable Mike Johnson
Speaker
United States House of Representatives
568 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
The Honorable Brett Guthrie
Chairman
House Energy & Commerce Committee
2161 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
The Honorable John Thune
Majority Leader
United States Senate
511 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
The Honorable Michael Crapo
Chairman
Senate Finance Committee
239 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
The Honorable Jason Smith
Chairman
House Ways & Means Committee
1011 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515