Photo of Madera Community Hospital's emergency department in 2021 by Breanna Hardy.

Sen. Anna M. Caballero and Assemblymember Frank Bigelow announced Wednesday they have secured $5 million from the state to support Madera Community Hospital.

Madera Community Hospital faced heavy challenges during the pandemic, including a shortage of health care workers, and was at risk of closing its doors and leaving approximately 100,000 people without direct hospital care.

“Madera Community Hospital provides critical medical care to a rural region in my district,” Caballero said. “Without its services, residents would have few or no healthcare options. I am pleased that Assemblyman Bigelow and I were able to secure the funding necessary to allow uninterrupted care to continue.”

Located down the street from the newly opened Camarena Health Clinic, Madera Community Hospital’s threatened closure would have left Madera with only three emergency options — Concentra Madera and a second Camarena Health location on Country Club Drive, also in Madera.

The funding secured by Caballero and Bigelow will ensure that the hospital will remain open.

“These dollars are critical to ensuring folks continue to have a hospital in our community,” Bigelow said. “I’m grateful we were able to work together to provide support in a time of need.”

The hospital generates more than 80% of its revenue from Medi-Cal, Medicare and similar programs, and serves as the only adult hospital in Madera County.