Brianna Parker

Welcome!

To better meet Our Health California’s goals of working toward an equitable, accessible health care system across our state, we’ve folded our website into that of our parent organization, the California Hospital Association. We’re focusing less on general health tips and more on patient stories and hospital innovation across California, as well as actions you […]

Mask Mandate Revised, But Masking Still Required in Health Care Settings

The state public health officer issued an order on Feb. 7 that rescinded the universal indoor masking requirement instituted on Dec. 15, 2021. Starting Feb. 16, fully vaccinated individuals will not be required to mask in indoor public settings or businesses. However, masking will continue to be required in health care settings, regardless of vaccination […]

CDPH Updates Recommendation for Hospitals to Offer Vaccines to Patients

On Feb. 7, CDPH issued AFL 21-20.1, which recommends that general acute care hospitals and acute psychiatric hospitals offer COVID-19 vaccinations and booster doses to eligible individuals prior to discharge. This is a CDPH recommendation, not a legal mandate. This AFL updates AFL 21-20 to address boosters and provides technical assistance on options and resources […]

CMS Revises Guidance on COVID-19 Survey Tool, Visitation Restrictions

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued revised guidance on the COVID-19 focused infection control (FIC) survey tool. The guidance now states that there is no longer a need to continue the required use of the special FIC survey tool on a national basis in acute and continuing care providers (ambulatory surgical […]

CDPH Updates Hospital and Skilled-Nursing Facility Visitation Order

On Feb. 7, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) issued a State Public Health Officer Order to amend its order on Dec. 31, 2021, about hospital and skilled-nursing facility (SNF) indoor visitation. In effect, yesterday’s order rescinds the increased requirements for indoor visitation that were imposed on a temporary basis in response to the […]

Hospitals: Final Step to Expand Coverage for All Included in January Budget Proposal Will Deliver Care to Millions

“Governor Newsom’s budget proposal to expand health care coverage to all income-eligible adults ages 26-49 regardless of immigration status is the final step needed to ensure that California becomes the first state in the nation to achieve universal health care coverage,” said Carmela Coyle, President & CEO of the California Hospital Association. “Delivering coverage for […]

State Public Health Officer Order on Visitors Updated

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) issued a Public Health Officer Order on Dec. 31, 2021, requiring skilled-nursing and other long-term care facilities to adopt a boosted-and-tested policy for indoor visitors. This is an update to the Aug. 5 and Aug. 26, 2021, State Public Health Officer Orders that required general acute care hospitals […]

CDPH Updates Quarantine Guidance – Again

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) revised its quarantine and isolation guidelines for a second time in as many weeks through a new All Facilities Letter (AFL) that takes effect today. Earlier guidance was aligned with recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance, which permitted — in the event of critical staffing shortages […]