124400. (a) The Legislature makes the following findings and declarations:
(1) There is a maldistribution of health services in California resulting in underserved rural and urban areas and underserved population groups.
(2) Most rural areas of the state do not have adequate health services because there are insufficient personnel and facilities to provide the services. The lack of adequate services has a negative impact on the health and safety of the public.
(3) In many urban areas of the state there are inadequate health services for low-income populations. Financial barriers create access problems. These barriers to health services have a negative impact on the health and safety of these groups and the public.
(4) Population groups, such as American Indians and seasonal agricultural and migratory workers, lack access to adequate and appropriate health services. The lack of adequate services has a negative impact on the health and safety of these groups and the public.
(5) State assistance will be needed to assure financial stability of primary care resources for these specified population groups.
(b) It is therefore the intent of the Legislature that the state develop an overall strategy to ensure the maintenance of adequate primary health care resources for special population groups.
(Added by Stats. 1995, Ch. 415, Sec. 8. Effective January 1, 1996.)