About Northern Sierra
The Northern Sierra Section is comprised of 21 hospitals, representing 1,400 licensed beds in Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Tehama, and Trinity counties.
Hospital Council Leads Effort to Improve Care for Patients Experiencing Challenges; Groundbreaking for Hospital in Chester
Who What In rural Northern California, patients with dual diagnoses, challenging medical or behavioral health issues, or those who are experiencing homelessness are not as common as in urban areas. However, they are present and significantly impact hospital staff and resources, with some staying months or even years. Many times, the case’s complexity has never […]
Adventist Health Doesn’t Plan to Reopen Feather River Hospital, but Will Evolve Services in Paradise
Who What For those who lived and worked in Paradise, the wildfire that started Nov. 8, 2018, in northern Butte County forever changed things. The fire killed 86 people, injured 17, and 95% of the structures were lost, including significant damage that required Feather River Hospital to close. After much consideration, Adventist Health has announced it […]
Model Could Help Plumas District Hospital Reopen Obstetric Services, Patient Transfer, and PSPS Season
Who What In recent years, there has been an alarming and steady increase in rural hospitals closing their obstetric services due to various challenges. For this trend to stop and hopefully reverse, a new alternative must be created, and thanks to a change in state law and some creative thinking, Plumas District Hospital (PDH) has […]
Challenges Continue in Rural North, but There’s Also Good News
Who What Many hospitals serve a sizeable Medi-Cal population, making the upcoming Medi-Cal redeterminations a big topic of conversation. Some counties are well positioned to promptly complete redeterminations, while others have staffing challenges that make timely completion difficult. Hospital Council is working wherever possible with payers and counties to help this county-led process. The lack […]
Local EMS Agency Work is Yielding Good Results
Who What On April 4, Hospital Council convened Nor-Cal EMS and the hospitals within the Local Emergency Services Agency (LEMSA). It is most heartening to see what collaboration yields, especially at a time when hospitals and LEMSAs are facing shared challenges. Discussions are underway on a proposed destination policy and nurse ride-a-longs. These strategies would […]
Anthem Reimbursement Delays Continue in Northern Sierra Section
Who Northern Sierra member hospitals with Anthem Accounts Receivable issues What Hospital Council is working with three hospitals that are experiencing delays — often well past 90 days — in claim reimbursement. These hospitals have worked with Anthem for months with little progress. Anthem leadership has committed to getting involved to resolve the issues, and Hospital […]
Hospital Council Offers Help with New CalAIM Programs
Who What Hospital Council is helping hospitals that are considering participation in two California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal programs — Enhanced Care Management (ECM) and Community Supports (CS). The state has contracted with companies to facilitate meetings of hospitals, health plans, clinics, counties, community benefit organizations, and more to help adopt and implement ECM and […]
Staff Concerns, Wages Reach Local Government Boards in Northern Sierra
What Hospital Council, which monitors the agendas of county Boards of Supervisors, has heard reports that counties are facing the same workforce issues as hospitals and other businesses. These issues — wages and retention — are impacting local governments across the state. For example, one Northern Sierra Board of Supervisors recently heard that its Behavioral […]
CalAIM Presents Opportunities, Raises Questions for Hospitals
Who What With its many significant changes, the state’s launch of the California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM) program presents opportunities but also raises some questions. One question is how CalAIM’s enhanced care management and community supports will benefit the patients who hospitals serve. Another is where does it make sense for hospitals to participate […]
Northern Sierra Section Meets in Redding
Who Northern Sierra Section leaders What The Northern Sierra Section of the Hospital Council met on Sept. 13 in Redding. The meeting had almost 100% attendance and included a lively discussion with considerable feedback on how the recent seismic and minimum wage proposal played out. There is much concern about the negative impact of minimum […]