The newsroom includes access to Council Connect, our twice-monthly newsletter on Hospital Council’s work. Key articles and issues of interest, along with the President’s Message, are included below.
Newsroom
Hospital Action Needed to Retain HPSA Designation
Approximately 100 of California’s roughly 374 Primary Care Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) designations are currently "Proposed for Withdrawal" on July 1. This is largely due to a federal policy shift that requires all recertifications to be conducted simultaneously, as well as resource shortages within the Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI). A list of impacted designations, along with other facilities...
Rethinking Our Approach to Leadership in Challenging Times
Hidden potential is everywhere — but leaders must create the conditions for it to emerge.
Section Updates for March 11, 2026
CENTRAL VALLEY: Hospital Council participated in the second Future of Medi-Cal Commission Advisory Group meeting. Over the coming months, the group will explore a framework for the program that improves Medi-Cal members’ experience and reduces inequities, strengthens provider participation and capacity, simplifies administration, and creates clear accountability and alignment across participating entities.
Workforce Management Case Study to be Highlighted at Upcoming Webinar
On March 25 from 9-10 a.m. (PT), Hospital Council will host a webinar exploring how Houston Methodist has transformed its workforce management to build resilience, strengthen engagement, and ensure financial stability — all while maintaining high-quality patient care and safeguarding its distinctive organizational culture. This webinar is presented in partnership with Hospital Council corporate associate member Proculent.
Join Us at CHA’s 2026 Rural Health Care Symposium
When rural and critical access hospital leaders gather at this year’s Rural Health Care Symposium, which will be hosted by the California Hospital Association (CHA) on March 23-24 in Sacramento, the question top of mind for many will be: How do we best serve our patients and communities while we’re in survival mode with all of the existential pressures facing our hospitals?
Learn How to Help Teams Manage Conflict During Rxsolve Webinar
Rxsolve Conflict, which helps health care teams address conflict early and manage it constructively, will host a webinar for Hospital Council members on March 10.
From Tactic to Strategy — Webinar Will Highlight Atlas Mobility’s Comprehensive Solutions
A March 12 webinar from Hospital Council business partner Atlas Mobility will examine the strategy behind patient mobility. Rather than simply a tactic for improving health care outcomes, thoughtful approaches to patient mobility can actually drive not just clinical improvement, but also financial performance and caregiver safety.
Section Updates for February 25, 2026
CENTRAL VALLEY: Last week, Hospital Council hosted a Kern Behavioral Health Workgroup Meeting, where the county health department provided an update on Senate Bill 43 implementation. To date, the county has noted no significant impacts on service delivery as only a few patients have had clear co-occurring mental health and substance use disorder diagnoses. The group...
Many Challenges, One Voice
Last week, the Hospital Council Board of Directors held its first meeting of the year, setting a strong tone around priorities, advocacy, and collaboration in what is shaping up to be a challenging environment for hospitals at all levels of government.
Sonoma County Outlines Behavioral Health Priorities, Challenges
At a recent meeting of the Sonoma County Behavioral Health Collaborative, county leadership provided an overview of the challenges facing the county in 2026 and beyond, particularly related to behavioral health.
