District Overview
The Mendocino Coast Health Care District is an independent health care district formed on January 1, 1967, by a vote of district residents, to construct and operate the Mendocino Coast District Hospital at 700 River Drive, Fort Bragg, CA.
The District's primary service area stretches from Westport, CA to Elk, CA, and eastward to parts of Comptche, CA. Its secondary service area extends south of Elk to Gualala, CA.
The District is authorized under the California Health and Safety Code, Division 23, Sections 32000–32499.5, known as the Local Health Care District Law. This statute empowers districts to establish, maintain, and operate (or assist in operating) health facilities and services, including outpatient programs. The District is a public entity responsible for community health access, asset stewardship, and hospital facility oversight.
The District Board originally authorized and constructed a 45-bed Rural Hospital, dedicated June 26, 1971. That original facility is still in operation today as a Rural, Critical Access, Acute-Care hospital, presently licensed for 25 acute care beds under current state law.
Assembly Bill 3178 (1994) amended California's Local Hospital District Law, renaming all "hospital districts" to "health care districts" and significantly expanding their authority. It broadened districts' roles beyond operating hospitals — allowing them to provide a full range of health services, support clinics and preventive care, fund physician recruitment, and enter partnerships or leases without directly running a hospital — while leaving district boundaries, elected boards, and public agency status unchanged. At that time, the District was renamed from the Mendocino Coast Hospital District to the Mendocino Coast Health Care District.
On July 1, 2020, with district voter approval, the Board leased the hospital facilities (plant, property, and equipment) to Adventist Health, which now operates the Mendocino Coast Hospital under a lease running through June 30, 2050. Key terms of that lease:
- Seismic Compliance (Section 7.2.1): The District (Landlord) must prepare a committed plan to achieve seismic compliance for improvements by January 1, 2030, to Adventist Health's (Tenant's) reasonable satisfaction.
- Improvement Projects (Section 7.3): The Tenant may perform any improvement projects it deems necessary, and need only keep the Landlord "reasonably informed" of projects and their costs. The Tenant holds primary authority to determine what projects are necessary.
As Landlord, the Board's primary responsibility is authorizing district taxpayer funds for maintenance and improvement of the hospital facilities, and ensuring the facilities remain licensed to operate by the California Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI, hcai.ca.gov).
The District has 5 Directors, elected by district voters to staggered 4-year terms.
Mission Statement: The Mendocino Coast Health Care District provides a hospital (facility) and fosters leadership, advocacy and collaboration for our community health and well-being.
Board Priorities:
- Develop and expand community partnerships and communication
- Plan wisely for the future while maintaining fiscal integrity
- Maintain and improve the physical plant
- Ensure medical services continue to be available to the community
