Congressman Vince Fong Helps Secure Hospital Funding for California

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman Vince Fong (CA-20) announced that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) approved the State of California’s Hospital Quality Assurance Fee (HQAF) Program 9 proposal, which will result in a net benefit of approximately $5.9 billion for hospitals across the Central Valley and the entire State of California.

For over a year, Congressman Fong advocated for the timely approval of this program, fighting to ensure California maintained a crucial funding stream for the hospitals that serve the state's most vulnerable patients. 

“I want to thank Dr. Oz and CMS for working closely with me to ensure California receives critical funding that will reach our local hospitals and communities that need it most,” said Rep. Fong. “This is a tremendous win for our California hospitals and the millions of patients who depend on them. CMS’s approval provides much-needed certainty for providers and patients alike, and I appreciate the partnership in supporting healthcare systems locally and across our state.”

“California hospitals are extraordinarily grateful to U.S. Rep. Fong for his tireless work to bring vital resources to hospitals that strengthen their ability to sustain access to care and continue serving California's communities,” said Carmela Coyle, President & CEO of the California Hospital Association. “Thanks to his efforts, hospitals are on more solid footing to provide quality health care, good jobs, and a strong economy for Californians.”

“Kern Medical is grateful to U.S. Rep. Fong for his continuous leadership and work to support the delivery of healthcare services in our community. The approval of the Hospital Fee Program 9 comes at a critical time and facilitates our ability to continue fulfilling our mission as the area’s teaching, trauma, and specialty referral hospital with the added responsibility to care for the most vulnerable,” shares Scott Thygerson, CEO at Kern Medical. 

Earlier this year, Congressman Fong joined Congressman David Valadao (CA-22) in hosting CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz in Bakersfield for a roundtable focused on healthcare challenges facing the Central Valley. The two lawmakers brought together healthcare providers from across the community to discuss the new Rural Health Transformation Program as well as upcoming CMS regulations and federal policies affecting both patients and providers, including the state’s pending HQAF Program 9 proposal.

This approval comes as California works with CMS to bring its hospital tax structure into compliance with new federal requirements under the Working Families Tax Cuts Act (Public Law 119-21), enacted in 2025.  Congressman Fong will continue to work closely with CMS, other federal partners, and state and local leaders to ensure California's hospitals and the patients they serve have the resources they need. 

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