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Over the past weeks and months, as CHA has been preparing its push for $1.5 billion in state relief to shore up a health care system on the edge, our messages continue to gain traction with media outlets throughout California.
The core concept is straightforward: California’s hospitals are in crisis, and without immediate support, care for patients will continue to erode as hospitals close down or reduce services just to keep their doors open.
Hospitals need both short-term support — $1.5 billion in emergency funding — and a long-term strategy to strengthen a Medi-Cal system that has suffered from underfunding for decades (California pays just 74 cents for every dollar it costs to provide care to Medi-Cal patients).
Sharing below more than a dozen links to recent media coverage based on information from, and interviews with, CHA on the hospital crisis, our push for state support, and the implication on patients if no action is taken. If you only have time to read one of these, the Feb. 13 piece from KQED is a good overview and a candid account of the peril that lies ahead.
- One Hospital Closed. How Many More Will Follow? – Feb. 21
- California hospitals warn of closures if state doesn’t provide lifeline – Feb. 16
- Hazel Hawkins focused on finding a partner – Feb. 14
- California hospital to cut 27 jobs as it suspends home health services – Feb. 14
- ‘Half of California Hospitals Are in the Red’: Pandemic Troubles Pile Up for ERs – Feb. 13
- Many Hospitals Facing Uncertain Future Over Fiscal Concerns – Feb. 9
- CA Hospitals Still Trying to Recover from Pandemic’s Financial Strain – Feb. 8
- Hospitals in ‘crisis’ in Central Valley as Fresno County ends its emergency declaration – Feb. 8
- Imperial County’s largest hospital is running out of cash – Feb. 7
- Should taxpayers fund a hospital in Madera County? Why there are bigger problems – Jan. 30
- California state prisoners among the influx of Madera patients in Fresno area hospitals – Jan. 30
- Central Valley County’s Lone Hospital Closes – Jan. 24
- After Madera’s hospital closure, could others follow? – Jan. 20
- ‘Patients are going to die’: the human cost of Madera County losing its only hospital – Jan. 14
- Questions still left as Madera County loses hospital, three clinics in one month – Jan. 13
- A California hospital closes its doors: ‘A great loss’ – Jan. 9
- ‘We’re feeling it already.’ Madera hospital’s closure triggers emergency in two counties – Jan. 5
- Kaweah Health asking state for help amid financial struggles – Dec. 26
As we enter the next period of budget conversations with state lawmakers, we will continue to share the stories — through the media and via all available channels — of how the financial devastation jeopardizes hospitals’ ability to provide care and leaves patients with more uncertain and degraded health care services.
