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
PG&E to Host May 28 Webinar on Wildfire Safety
On May 28 from 10-11:30 a.m. (PT), Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) will host a webinar for public safety partners that operate critical facilities, including hospitals. During the webinar, PG&E will discuss important planning and preparedness resources, as well as advance support in the event of public safety power shutoffs or outages on powerlines protected by enhanced powerline safety settings.
SF’s New Public Health Director to Focus on Improving Mental Health Care
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Last week, Hospital Council met with Dan Tsai, the new director of the San Francisco Public Health Department (SFPHD). Tsai’s primary focus in his work with hospitals will be improving the 5150 hold process, in support of Mayor Lurie’s “Breaking the Cycle” directive. Through that work, the city will seek to connect SF’s most complex patients to treatment and services.
Hospital Council Urges Merced County to Investigate Delays in Processing Medi-Cal Applications
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Last week, Hospital Council learned that some hospitals in Merced County are struggling to receive timely reimbursement for services covered through Medi-Cal, the result of an application backlog. Hospital Council is looking into the scope of the issue and plans to urge Merced County to investigate. Timely application processing is critical to ensure hospitals, which already face significant financial strain, are appropriately reimbursed for the care they provide.
Hospitals and Partnership HealthPlan Talk Medicaid, Workforce, and More
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Northern Sierra Section hospitals gathered at Plumas District Hospital in Quincy last month to meet with leadership from PHC, the section’s Medi-Cal managed care plan. The group discussed shared concerns about proposed cuts to Medicaid, especially provider tax programs, that would be devastating for many rural providers and communities.
All Hands on Deck
As hospitals face some of the greatest challenges in our long history, there is strength in unity — and a critical need for action. While the California Hospital Association continues its advocacy at both the state and federal levels, Hospital Council is doing its part to amplify hospital voices — ensuring lawmakers understand, in real and local terms, the devastating impact Medicaid cuts would have on the delivery of health care to all Californians.
Alameda County Considers Specialty Care Diversion Policy
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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
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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.
Santa Clara County Health System Expands
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On April 1, the Santa Clara County Health System became the second largest health system in California when it assumed operation of Regional Medical Center (RMC). The county hired 98% of existing RMC employees, and obtained approval and redesignation of RMC’s trauma II and ST-elevation myocardial infarction services.
HQI Can Assist With Mandatory Health Equity Reporting
The Hospital Quality Institute (HQI) is offering a service that helps hospitals prepare for mandatory health equity reporting required under Assembly Bill 1204.
Hospital Council Board Advances Key Policy and Preparedness Priorities
It is an understatement to say we are experiencing uncertain times for the health care field, hospitals, and the patients we serve — and in particular, the threat of federal and state Medicaid funding cuts and the impact they could have. That’s why the Hospital Council Board of Directors meeting, which took place on April 1 in Sacramento, was an opportunity to help strengthen our collective response and build essential relationships among hospital leaders. Mutual support and communication are needed more than ever.
