Section Update

Alameda County Considers Specialty Care Diversion Policy

Who

  • Alameda County Emergency Medical Services Agency (ALCO EMS) 
  • Alameda County hospitals and their emergency department (ED) leaders 
  • Hospital Council
  • What

    ALCO EMS is considering a new specialty care diversion policy modeled on existing policies in Los Angeles and San Francisco. Under such a policy, ALCO EMS could suspend a hospital’s ST-elevation myocardial infarction or stroke designation when the hospital is experiencing prolonged ambulance patient offload times (APOTs).  

    Providence Gifts Crucial Dollars to Behavioral Health Triage Project in Arcata

    Who

  • Providence St. Joseph Hospital  
  • Mad River Community Hospital 
  • California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt 
  • Humboldt County Behavioral Health  
  • Health care partners across Humboldt County 
  • What

    Hospital and health care leaders recently gathered to celebrate a landmark $2 million donation from Providence St. Joseph Hospital in Eureka to support the development of a new behavioral health triage center on the Mad River Community Hospital campus in Arcata. 

    Solano County Establishes SB 43 Implementation Workgroup

    Who

  • Solano County hospitals 
  • Solano County Behavioral Health, Emergency Medical Services (EMS), and Public Guardian 
  • Partnership Health Plan 
  • Community stakeholders representing law enforcement, courts, mobile crisis services, and behavioral health programs
  • What

    Senate Bill (SB) 43, which was signed into law in 2023, expands the definition of “gravely disabled” for the involuntary detention, treatment, or conservatorship of individuals with behavioral health conditions to include those living with severe substance use disorders. Solano County will implement the new law on Jan. 1, 2026, and has established an SB 43 workgroup that is meeting bimonthly. Solano County hospitals and Hospital Council participate in this meeting along with other stakeholders. 

    San Francisco to Open New Police-Friendly Stabilization Center

    Who

  • San Francisco Mayor’s Office 
  • San Francisco Department of Public Health,  
  • San Francisco Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing
  • What

    In April, San Francisco will open a 24/7 police-friendly stabilization center at 822 Geary Street, where police officers can drop off people with urgent mental health and substance abuse needs so they can receive medical care. The goal is to keep people out of jails and emergency departments (EDs) and the city’s limited law enforcement resources on the street. With powers granted by the recently passed Fentanyl State of Emergency Ordinance, the city is able to expedite the center’s opening. 

    Reps. Huffman and Thompson Hold Medicare Funding Press Conference in Sonoma

    Who

  • Rep. Mike Thompson  
  • Rep. Jared Huffman  
  • Lynda Hopkins, Chair, Sonoma County Board of Supervisors  
  • Parker Duncan, MD, Santa Rosa Community Health  
  • Michelle Oxford, Providence Health  
  • Donna Waldman, Jewish Community Free Clinic  
  • Ginger Schechter, MD, retired, Santa Rosa VA Clinic  
  • Erik and Nancy Meitz, Patient Advocates 
  • Meghan Hardin, RVP, Hospital Council 
  • What

    On March 7, Reps. Mike Thompson and Jared Huffman hosted a press conference highlighting the critical role of hospital funding in Sonoma County and beyond. Hospital Council participated, along with county supervisors, clinics, hospitals, and patients — all sharing powerful stories about the real-life impact of Medi-Cal and Medicare funding.  

    SB 43 Work Progresses in San Mateo, Santa Clara Counties

    Who

  • Leaders in Santa Clara and San Mateo counties 
  • San Mateo Medical Center and San Mateo Mobile Crisis Unit
  • What

    Santa Clara County (SCC) has kicked off a workgroup to implement Senate Bill (SB) 43 (2023), which expands the definition of “gravely disabled” to include individuals with substance use disorders (SUDs). In late March, the county behavioral health department will update the SCC Board of Supervisors on its plans for this effort. 

    Central Valley Hospital Incident Command System Liaison Officers to Meet

    Who

  • Member hospitals and public health leaders in Fresno, Madera, Tulare, and Kings counties
  • What

    On March 12, Hospital Council is hosting its regular meeting of Central Valley liaison officers, which began during the COVID-19 pandemic as a method for hospital incident command system liaison officers to share information with the public health department. 

    Northern Sierra Hospitals Leverage Relationships to Support Medicare

    Who

  • Northern Sierra hospitals 
  • U.S. Reps. Kevin Kiley and Doug LaMalfa
  • What

    The shift to a Republican-led administration in Washington, D.C., increases the influence of California’s nine Republican U.S. Representatives. Many hospitals in the Northern Sierra have long-standing relationships with two of these nine: Reps. Kiley and LaMalfa.  

    East Bay Hospitals Focus on Relationship Building in Support of 2025 Priorities

    Who

  • East Bay hospitals
  • What

    Following the November 2024 election, the East Bay section’s priorities are to build relationships with newly elected officials throughout the section, as well as continue to educate and connect with our long-standing legislators and county supervisors on the critical issues facing hospitals. All three East Bay counties have new county health department leaders, so it is imperative to establish relationships with this important group.