Kaiser Permanente commits $32M to expand MLK Community Hospital in South Los Angeles

Kaiser Permanente has announced a commitment of up to $32 million to support emergency department expansion at Martin Luther King Jr. Community Hospital in South Los Angeles, California, including a $25 million grant and the loan of a $7 million modular facility. The investment will expand permanent emergency care capacity while maintaining services during construction. The 131-bed nonprofit hospital’s emergency department was designed for 25,000 annual visits but now handles about 125,000—five times its intended capacity—with some patients treated in parking-lot tents. About 80% of MLKCH patients are covered by Medi-Cal, underscoring the investment’s focus on underserved communities.