By Feb. 15, patients at Adventist Health clinics and hospitals won’t be able to see their Santé Health System physician, the hospital network announced.

The change will affect 2,600 people in Kings and Fresno counties, said Kara Herderich-Flores, director of physician services at Santé.

Herderick-Flores said for patients needing to make changes, Santé will assist. She said the health plans have been notified, and members will be soon told about possible changes.

“We 100% willing to help them. We didn’t want this; we certainly want to have a contract with Adventist. We are willing to work something out with them,” Herderich-Flores told GV Wire. “This is news to us. It doesn’t look like they had any intent to renegotiate.”

Adventist Health didn’t respond to a request for comment by GV Wire before publication of this article. However, Adventist Health said out-of-network benefits may still be available and emergency departments are available to everyone.

“As one of the largest healthcare providers in the Central Valley, our goal is to continue providing dependable, high‑quality care for decades to come,” the hospital network’s announcement stated. “As part of that commitment, and after careful review, Adventist Health will end its contracts with Santé Physicians (Santé) effective February 15, 2026.”

Adventist Health Largest Health Provider in Kings County

In Hanford, Adventist Health operates the only full-service hospital in Kings County. The network also operates dozens of clinics in the region. Throughout the area, Santé operates a variety of plans, including HMOs, PPOs, Medi-Cal, and Medicare Advantage.

Those with HMOs, Medi-Cal, or Medicare Advantage through Santé will likely have to switch their plans or travel to Fresno to see specialists or primary care physicians, the Adventist Health release stated.

PPOs typically allow out-of-network providers, though often at a high cost.

Social media groups posted the announcements in local channels.

Several social media users commented about how the decision will affect rural residents.

“As someone who pays a substantial amount for health insurance, it is deeply frustrating and disappointing to be unable to access healthcare services within my own community,” said Stacey Davis Jones in a post. “Here I have been raising my voice for ones that don’t have access or even adequate care. But now it’s my family impacted now too.”

Herderich-Flores said the decision surprised Santé, an independent practice association.

“Typically, that is what happens. It goes on a termination with the intent of renegotiating,” Herderich-Flores said. “But when we got the termination notice from Adventist Health, they did not express any interest in renegotiation.”