On Tuesday, as expected, the bill to create California’s Office of Health Care Affordability unanimously passed out of the Assembly Health Committee, with a couple legislators choosing not to vote. The bill, which has the power to fundamentally change how health care in California is delivered, saw minimal debate — just a few brief questions […]
Late last month, the respected health care financial analyst Kaufman Hall released its latest examination of the condition of hospitals as the nation continues to toil through the COVID-19 pandemic. Among the conclusions is something hospital leaders know all too well. From the report: “As many push for a rapid return to ‘normal,’ hospital and […]
In a year like no other, it’s safe to say the victories have been few and far between. But today, California’s hospitals got two big wins in Congress. First, the U.S. Senate passed H.R. 1868 as amended, which will continue to delay the implementation of the 2% Medicare sequester until the end of the 2021 […]
For hospitals, the past year of responding to the COVID-19 pandemic was one of the most frenetic, intense periods in health care in memory.
For other sectors – restaurants, tourism, and more – things slowed to a snail’s pace. This is also true of government, where state and federal legislators in 2020 processed a limited number of bills as they focused on the crisis and their communities.
Today, President Biden signed a $1.9 trillion COVID-19 stimulus package that will bring much-needed relief to a wide swath of the country including: an extension of jobless supplement programs, direct $1,400 payments to most Americans, an expansion of the child tax credit, support for restaurants, rental assistance, support for schools, and billions of dollars to state and local governments.
“Selfishness is not living as one wishes to live, it is asking others to live as one wishes to live.” – Oscar Wilde
As COVID-19’s winter surge continues to wane, as the supply of vaccinations begins to grow, and as the warmer months of spring and summer approach, state and federal leaders are under increased pressure to return to “normal” — whatever that might look like — in all facets of life: schools, businesses, restaurants, entertainment, and more.
As Congress continues to deliberate President Biden’s $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package, with House approval expected Friday, a new report from financial consulting firm Kaufman Hall paints a troubling picture of the financial toll the pandemic has taken on hospitals.
Tomorrow is the last day for California lawmakers to introduce bills during the 2021 legislative session and — despite the persistent challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic — legislation has been piling up. Already, CHA is tracking some 300 bills and is actively engaged on many of them.
A new administration in Washington, D.C., means new and different approaches to federal health policy as well.
Negotiations on President Biden’s $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package are continuing at a rapid pace, and the budget reconciliation process used to advance the proposal means the House could take a final vote by the end of February.
Despite the size of Biden’s plan, there’s one glaring hole: No hospital-specific aid to support patient care, workforce sustainability, and health care infrastructure.
“Always focus on the front windshield and not the rearview mirror.” ― Gen. Colin Powell
Almost a year ago to the day, Feb. 3, 2020, Santa Clara County declared a local health emergency due COVID-19, the first county in California to do so.
