Indian Health Council CEO Orvin Hanson Appointed to Serve on California’s Rural Health Policy Council

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For immediate release

June 29, 2026

Indian Health Council CEO Orvin Hanson Appointed to Serve on California’s Rural Health Policy Council

Valley Center, CA— Indian Health Council, Inc. (IHC) Chief Executive Officer, Orvin Hanson has been appointed to serve as an interim member of the California Rural Health Policy Council (RHPC), under the California Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI). This three-year appointment begins June 30, 2026. This appointment will be confirmed by California Tribal Leaders in July.

California’s rural communities face persistent and well-documented health disparities, including limited access to primary and specialty care, acute workforce shortages, and geographic barriers that impede timely treatment. The RHPC will convene to help address these challenges by ensuring that rural health stakeholders have a structured, ongoing voice in the design and implementation of the California Rural Health Transformation (CalRHT) program. The RHPC will consist of members representing California’s rural health providers including rural physicians, clinicians, health plans, clinics, hospitals, consumer advocates, Tribal leaders, and state departments.

The RHPC will serve as a stakeholder forum open to the public for rural health stakeholders to discuss the CalRHT program implementation. The RHPC will consider and discuss policy questions from the CalRHT team; propose ideas for CalRHT consideration; provide subject matter expertise; help communicate CalRHT policy to their community; and share program performance feedback from rural California communities. The RHPC will meet quarterly during the three-year term.

“I am deeply humbled to accept this interim appointment and serve on the RHPC,” states Orvin Hanson. “It is vital to the successful development of CalRHT that California’s rural, and especially Tribal communities are actively part of the dialogue in designing and implementing the program. Each of our communities are unique and the only way to create a program that meets their needs is to go to them and hear them out. They know best what works, and what doesn’t, within their own areas. I look forward to helping build new systems that work for our Tribal Communities.”

About the Department of Health Care Access and Information

HCAI is committed to expanding access to quality, equitable, affordable health care for all Californians by supporting high value delivery systems, resilient health facilities and workforces, and actionable health information and strategies. https://hcai.ca.gov/

About Indian Health Council, Inc.

Founded in 1970, IHC provides healthcare services to nine tribes in northern San Diego County and operates health centers in Valley Center and Santa Ysabel. The organization also participates in the California Native American Research Center for Health (CA‑NARCH), reflecting its commitment to research and innovation in Native health.

Indian Health Council is a non‑profit consortium of nine tribes in north San Diego County. IHC’s vision is – “Building a strong foundation through unity, resilience, and cultural empowerment to ensure the success of both current and future generations.”