March 10, 2026
The Honorable Alex Padilla
U.S. Senate
331 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
The Honorable Jay Obernolte
U.S. House of Representatives
2183 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
RE: Letter of Support for Inland Empire Health Plan’s FY2027 Community Project Funding application for integrated telehealth diagnostic stations at Bear Valley Community Hospital and Mountains Community Hospital
Dear Senator Padilla and Congressman Obernolte:
On behalf of Inland Action, I write to express strong support for Inland Empire Health Plan’s (IEHP) funding request to deploy integrated telehealth diagnostic stations at Bear Valley Community Hospital and Mountains Community Hospital. These two facilities are critical access points for residents of the San Bernardino mountain communities, and this project represents a meaningful, high‑impact investment in rural health access.
Bear Valley Community Hospital serves Big Bear Valley and surrounding communities, where residents experience significant geographic barriers that make access to care difficult, particularly during severe weather and for individuals with chronic conditions or limited mobility.
Likewise, Mountains Community Hospital serves the communities of Lake Arrowhead, Running Springs, Crestline, and adjacent areas. Its patients often struggle to obtain timely specialty care due to long travel distances, elevation changes, and transportation challenges that frequently lead to delayed or foregone care.
The proposed telehealth diagnostic stations would provide reliable, clinic‑based access to essential diagnostic tools and virtual specialty consultations. This investment would reduce unnecessary travel, strengthen continuity of care, and improve access for high‑need populations, including Medi‑Cal and Medicare beneficiaries and individuals managing chronic disease.
The initiative aligns with federal priorities supporting sustainable, innovative care models in rural and underserved communities. As the region’s primary Medi‑Cal managed care plan, serving more than 1.5 million members, IEHP possesses the operational infrastructure and care‑management systems necessary to ensure effective implementation and sustainability.
We respectfully urge your support for IEHP’s application on behalf of the patients and communities served by both Bear Valley Community Hospital and Mountains Community Hospital.
Sincerely,
Julie Michaels
Executive Director
Inland Action