The health care of 2 out of every 3 Plumas County residents may be impacted by federal funding cuts, a subcommittee of the Quincy Area Indivisible reported in the group’s May 18 meeting. Formed to research and publicize how cuts in federal spending would potentially affect Plumas County communities, the Local Issues Subcommittee has been meeting regularly since the larger Quincy Area Indivisible group formed in March.
Plumas County’s current population is estimated to be 18,517, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Slightly more than a third of all county residents are enrolled in Medicare (6,551 people, which equals 35.4% of the total population), while another third (6,050 people, 32.7%) are covered by Medi-Cal, which is California’s version of the federal Medicaid program. Combining these statistics from state and federal government websites, the Local Issues Subcommittee estimates that two-thirds of Plumas County residents use one or both federal health care insurance programs.
Plumas District Hospital and its associated doctors’ offices and clinics rely heavily on funding and reimbursement rates for Medicare and Medi-Cal. When people who do not have Medi-Cal go to the emergency room, for example, the hospital must pick up the cost. The proposed cuts could have severe consequences resulting in financial insolvency and even closure. Access to health care would become even more difficult, costly and geographically distant for all residents in that event.
In addition to studying potential health care impacts of the Trump administration’s budget and spending, Local Issues group members are also gathering information on federal funding impacts to Covered California, local food programs, county government departments and functions, AmeriCorps projects, student funding at Feather River College and the management of Plumas National Forest.
Quincy Area Indivisible urges people concerned about potential cuts to these important programs to call Rep. Kevin Kiley at 202-225-2523 or 916-724-2575.
Quincy Area Indivisible formed in March 2025 to organize and amplify the voices of citizens in response to actions and proposals of the Trump administration. The group’s next event is a No Kings rally at the Plumas County Courthouse plaza set for June 14, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.