Health care districts are California special districts created to build and operate hospitals and other health care facilities and services in underserved areas.[1] As of 2019, there are 79 health care districts in California.[2] Each health care district is governed by a locally elected five-member board of directors.[1] Palomar Health in San Diego County is the largest district in California.[3]
In 1945, the California Legislature passed the Local Hospital District Law which authorized the special districts.[4][1] Most of the current health care districts were established in the first two decades thereafter. In 1965, the Legislature passed the District Reorganization Act of 1965 which made changes to the law.[5] In 1994, they were renamed as "health care districts", reflecting that health care was increasingly being provided outside of the hospital setting.[6]