LVMC Board Encourages Continued Advocacy for Medicaid Funding

Dear Lompoc Community,

As the Board of Directors (BOD) of Lompoc Valley Medical Center (LVMC), we are pleased to share some encouraging news from Washington, D.C.—our voices are being heard!

On April 10, 2025, the House of Representatives passed a budget resolution with a 216-214 vote. With both the House and Senate now having passed the plan, we are seeing a positive development: a reduction in the previously proposed Medicaid spending cuts. This is a significant step forward. While this is a positive development, our work is far from over. The plan must pass through 10 committees over the next few months.

The potential impact of any Medicaid cuts on rural communities remains a concern. It is crucial that we continue our advocacy efforts, particularly with our California representatives and members of the Senate Finance Committee, to ensure that any spending reductions do not adversely affect rural healthcare services.

LVMC is the cornerstone of healthcare in Lompoc Valley, serving over 60,000 residents, including military personnel from Vandenberg Space Force Base. We operate a 60-bed acute hospital, a 110-bed skilled nursing facility, multispecialty clinics, and other specialized services, all of which are crucial to maintaining the health and well-being of everyone in our community. We also provide emergency services to over 25,000 patients each year.

The funding we receive through Medicaid is essential for maintaining the breadth and quality of services we provide. A significant reduction in these funds has the potential to limit the range of services we can provide now and, in the future, and could directly impact our ability to provide timely access to all those requiring care. We must be able to provide high-quality care to our residents, including emergency services, surgery, cancer treatment, and many other essential healthcare services.

We are actively reaching out to congressional leaders and other key decision-makers to ensure they are fully aware of the critical role LVMC plays in our community. We are committed to ensuring that the healthcare services we provide to Lompoc, including those that support our military families, remain protected and fully funded. These services are indispensable to our entire community, and we want to make sure our voices and those of our community are heard locally, in Sacramento and in Washington, D.C.

We want to assure you that, while no final decisions have been made regarding Medicaid funding, we are doing everything within our power to advocate for the necessary support to continue delivering the quality of care that our community deserves. The trust and support you have shown LVMC over the years is something we take very seriously, and we are committed to

being part of the solution as we continue to work toward ensuring our hospital and services remain sustainable and accessible.

We urge you to stay informed about these potential changes, and to reach out to your elected officials to express your support for preserving Medicaid funding for LVMC. We are here to provide the highest quality care, and together, we can ensure that our community continues to receive the healthcare services it relies on.

Thank you for your continued trust and support. We are proud to serve you, and we remain committed to the health and well-being of the Lompoc community.

Sincerely,

Lompoc Valley Medical Center

Board of Directors

Leslie Kelly

Board President

Elham Novin-Baheran

Board Secretary

Roger McConnell

Board Director

Christopher Lumsdaine

Board Director 

Mark Cordes

Board Director