Legislation to Alleviate Health Disparities in Rural Areas Advances

(Sacramento) – Legislation authored by Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia (D-Coachella) to address health disparities in rural, underserved areas has passed the California State Assembly and will advance to the Senate. “Half of all California residents live in a community without adequate access to healthcare services,” Assemblymember Garcia says. “These are unacceptable statistics, we must do more to alleviate health disparities in our rural and medically underserved communities.” Assembly Bill 893 would authorize The Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development to collect data from local public health agencies, physician groups, and professional and educational associations. This information will ascertain the number of graduate medical education slots necessary to meet the needs of medically underserved areas such as Imperial County.  Learn more in this Assembly Access video.