Council Connect Articles

EMSA Pauses Audit Tool Compliance Activities Through August

The Emergency Medical Services Agency (EMSA) is pausing some activities associated with Assembly Bill 40 compliance and the ambulance patient offload time (APOT) Audit Tool. All APOT audits, compliance evaluations, and biweekly calls with participating facilities exceeding their APOT standard will be paused through August 2026. 

New Business Partner Brings Emotional Well-Being Solutions, EAP Support to Hospitals

Concern, a new Hospital Council strategic business partner, delivers clinically led mental health and employee well-being solutions built within the health care ecosystem. Concern’s professionals are experienced in hospital culture and bring firsthand insight into the pressures facing nurses, physicians, and care teams. This perspective informs their services, which include an access center, counseling, immediate...

Section Updates for August 12, 2026

Central Valley: In the latest meeting of member hospitals’ community benefits leads, Hospital Council continued to coordinate the development of an investment plan to address hunger and food insecurity across Fresno, Madera, Kings, and Tulare counties. With structure and metrics for the group’s shared priorities taking shape, the group is aiming to finalize its plan...

As OBBBA Impacts Loom, Hospitals Work Together

Just over a year ago, Congress passed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), ushering in monumental changes for California’s Medicaid program, known as Medi-Cal. Nearly 400 days since the legislation was signed into law, its impact on hospitals and the communities they serve is only beginning to take shape — and Hospital Council is mobilizing to meet the moment. 

Deadline Approaching for Key AI, OHCA Advocacy Asks 

The California Hospital Association has issued two member alerts, both of which have a July 31 deadline:   The first alert asks members to contact their senators and urge opposition to Assembly Bill 2575 (Ortega, D-Hayward), which would protect health care workers from corrective action or discipline when they override an artificial intelligence (AI) tool, even if the decision results in patient harm or...

July 29 Webinar Will Share Innovative Staffing Solutions

At an upcoming webinar, Hospital Council associate member ShiftMed will explore the possibility that the workforce problem is actually a preference mismatch (not a shortage), what the generational shift in nursing is doing to scheduling models, and why most health systems are structurally unable to capture savings without new operating infrastructure. Speakers will address case...

Section Updates for July 22, 2026

Central Valley: Hospital Council is working in partnership with public health and 16 local hospitals to update the mutual aid memorandum of understanding for Fresno, Madera, Tulare, and Kings counties. This agreement facilitates disaster response, addressing the relationships and responsibilities of local stakeholders during emergencies. While traditionally a one-year agreement, the latest iteration will move...