Alameda Health System Nursing Facilities Earn National Recognition Amid Medicaid Funding Concerns

Alameda Health System has achieved national recognition with all four of its skilled nursing and sub-acute facilities being named to Newsweek's America's Best Nursing Homes 2026 list. The honored facilities include Fairmont Rehabilitation and Wellness in San Leandro, along with Alameda Hospital Skilled Nursing Facilities in Alameda, which encompasses Park Bridge Rehabilitation and Wellness, Alameda Hospital Sub-Acute Unit, and South Shore Rehabilitation and Wellness. These facilities provide essential long-term care and temporary residence for patients requiring medically necessary rehabilitation treatment.

Richard Espinoza, chief administrative officer of post-acute services at AHS, emphasized that this recognition validates the public safety-net health system's ability to deliver exceptional care comparable to for-profit institutions. The achievement reflects the dedication of skilled and compassionate team members who treat residents like family and maintain strong operational processes across all facilities. This distinction is particularly significant given that AHS operates as the public safety-net health system of Alameda County, committed to providing healthcare as a human right regardless of patients' ability to pay.

The recognition comes at a critical time for healthcare funding, as Medicaid serves as the primary payer for over 60% of nursing facility residents nationwide due to the prohibitively high costs of long-term skilled nursing care. Recent congressional action has created substantial challenges, with Congress passing sweeping Medicaid cuts through H.R.1, known as The Big Bill, which was signed into law last July. Experts project that AHS will lose $100 million annually in federal funding by 2030 as a result of these cuts. This reduction poses significant risks since approximately 80% of AHS funding comes from Medicaid and state healthcare reimbursements, known as Medi-Cal in California.

James Jackson, CEO of AHS, expressed pride in the nursing care providers' excellence in meeting the substantial need for affordable, high-quality skilled nursing home care in Alameda County. However, he also sounded the alarm about the threat posed by Medicaid funding cuts to critically important healthcare services. These funding reductions impact not only skilled nursing facilities but also other essential services including trauma care, emergency services, hospital care, and primary care throughout the health system.

Newsweek's America's Best Nursing Homes ranking, developed in collaboration with Statista, employs a comprehensive evaluation methodology across four key pillars. The assessment includes performance indicators covering staffing, quality measures, and health inspections; reputation scores derived from online surveys among medical professionals; accreditations from organizations like TJC and CARF; and resident satisfaction reflected through Google rating scores. The complete awards list is available on Newsweek's website.

This national recognition demonstrates that safety-net healthcare systems can achieve excellence in patient care despite funding challenges. The combination of prestigious acknowledgment and substantial financial threats creates a complex landscape for healthcare providers serving vulnerable populations. The situation highlights the ongoing tension between quality care delivery and sustainable funding models in the healthcare industry, particularly for institutions serving communities with significant Medicaid-dependent populations.