KINGS COUNTY, Calif. (FOX26) — Residents in Kings County are raising concerns after Adventist Health canceled its contract with Santé Physicians Network, a move they say was made without proper notice and is already disrupting access to care in the region.
The contract termination is set to take effect Feb. 15, 2026.
One local patient tells FOX26 they only learned about the change after calling to schedule a routine doctor’s appointment.
Kings County is a rural area with limited health care options.
Adventist Health operates the county’s only hospital, and many local doctors and clinics are affiliated with the system.
Patients say the sudden cancellation has left both providers and families scrambling.
“This decision will 100 percent impact our rural community,” the patient tells FOX26. “From people who rely on local access to care, to doctors who are now forced to navigate uncertainty for themselves and their patients.”
For many residents, losing in-network providers could mean traveling to another county for medical care, something advocates say isn’t realistic or equitable, especially for seniors, low-income families, or those with chronic conditions.
Patients also expressed frustration over the lack of communication, saying neither members nor providers were given written notice ahead of time.
Some physicians who were previously in-network are now trying to determine how to continue caring for their patients with little guidance.
The patient says they reached out to Adventist Health’s Roseville office but have not yet received a response.
“As someone who pays a substantial amount for health insurance, it’s deeply frustrating to not be able to access care in my own community,” they said. “I’ve raised my voice for people who don’t have access to adequate care, and now my own family is impacted too.”
They also questioned how the decision aligns with Adventist Health’s mission to serve the communities where it operates.
“Our community deserves transparency, accountability, and access to care,” the patient said. “Especially in a rural setting where options are already limited.”
FOX26 reached out to the California Department of Managed Health Care to ask: Does a health plan that terminates a contract with a network provider give written notice to the DMHC within a specific time?
DMHC responded saying:
When a contract terminates between a health plan and a hospital or provider group, DMHC-licensed health plans must submit a “Block Transfer Filing” to the Department when a contract termination affects 2,000 or more assigned members. The DMHC reviews these filings to ensure compliance with the law, including to ensure the plan’s network remains adequate to provide care to members and impacted members are timely notified of the termination and their rights.