Who
- Redwood Coast CEOs
What
The Redwood Coast CEOs held their first section meeting of the year, centering discussions on the financial stability of rural hospitals amid potential changes to government reimbursement. Pat Blaisdell, vice president, policy, for the California Hospital Association (CHA), provided an overview of the Vitality Index Payer Scorecard and CHA’s insurer accountability efforts, and she led a discussion on post-acute care needs in Humboldt County.
Other meeting highlights include:
- Southern Humboldt Health CEO Matt Rees raised the possibility of revisiting Senate Bill 1423 (2024) — which aimed to stabilize health care services in rural, remote communities — in 2025.
- Some voiced concerns about increasing California Department of Public Health (CDPH) oversight, with Michael Keleman, CEO of Providence St. Joseph Hospital in Eureka, sharing that CDPH has been regularly “walking the halls” as part of its validation process to approve transitioning Providence’s general hospital off its acute license.
- Insurer accountability remains a significant issue. Keleman cited an instance in which Aetna denied a patient’s claim the day before surgery, illustrating the ongoing frustrations hospitals face when last-minute insurer decisions are unfairly blamed on providers.
Takeaway/Next Steps
Hospital Council will continue to monitor and engage on key issues, including insurer accountability, CDPH oversight, and potential legislative opportunities related to rural hospital financial stability and post-acute care access.
Contact
RVP Meghan Hardin at mhardin@hospitalcouncil.org