East Kern Healthcare seeks larger sphere of influence to enable funding access for Ridgecrest Regional Hospital

East Kern Healthcare District asked Kern County—s Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) next week to adopt a municipal service review and amend the district—s sphere of influence so the district—s boundaries would include Ridgecrest Regional Hospital—s service area. District and city representatives said the change is a preliminary administrative step that would let the hospital pursue additional reimbursement mechanisms, including intergovernmental transfers (IGTs), but does not itself transfer ownership or operate the hospital.

The request matters to local residents because district board members and consultants say annexation could enable the hospital to seek six IGT revenue streams and other reimbursements that are not available to a nonprofit hospital outside a special district. "We have managed to find a structure that starts with the annexation that allows us to be able to access all six available IGT accounts," said Karen (last name not provided), an East Kern Healthcare District board representative. She said the annexation is intended to increase revenue available to Ridgecrest Regional Hospital but does not guarantee grant awards.

At a public briefing in Ridgecrest, the city—s LAFCO representative, Travis (first name only), described next Wednesday—s LAFCO agenda item as an MSR (municipal service review) and an SOI (sphere of influence)…