About Affordability
Health care is a basic human need, one that Californians rely on to live, grow, and prosper. Unfortunately, the cost of care has become too high for many working families. For years, California’s hospitals have made headway toward controlling costs. To ensure care for every Californian, the entire health care field must tighten its belt — insurance companies, physicians, labor unions, hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, and more.
Improving affordability is a priority for California hospitals — but with nearly two-thirds of health care spending occurring outside of hospitals, solving this challenge will take a combined effort from the entire health care system. To move toward our shared goals of affordable, equitable, and high-quality health care, hospitals work closely with the Office of Health Care Affordability.
CHA Urges OHCA Board to Reject Draconian Penalties
What's happening: The Office of Health Care Affordability’s (OHCA) board met on Wednesday and continued deliberations over the monetary penalties for violating the spending targets. The office also introduced draft regulations to implement Assembly Bill (AB) 1415 (Statutes of 2025), which expands OHCA’s authority to review certain types of health care market transactions.
Recording of OHCA ‘High-Cost’ Hospital List Reassessment Now Available
What’s happening: A recording of CHA's April 23 webinar on the Office of Health Care Affordability’s (OHCA) planned reassessment of the “high-cost” hospital list is now available for members who many have missed it.
Issue Brief: Bureaucrat-Run Health Care Isn’t the Solution for California’s High Costs
OHCA must engage every sector of health care in making data-driven decisions that improve care access, quality, and equity.
Key Messages: Bureaucrat-Run Health Care Isn’t the Solution for California’s High Costs
The Office of Health Care Affordability (OHCA) — the state’s response to affordability challenges — is on a path that will debilitate California’s health care system.
Infographic: 39,000 Jobs, $40 Billion on the Line as Bureaucrats Endanger CA Health Care
2025 Legislative Wrap-up
Don’t miss CHA’s upcoming webinar — your essential guide to navigating new health care laws and regulations. This interactive session is designed to give you a clear, actionable understanding of the latest legislative updates that could impact your operations. Our expert panel will cover key 2024 legislation, highlight crucial deadlines, and answer your pressing questions, ensuring you’re well-prepared for the challenges and opportunities ahead.
Government Bureaucrats Are Putting Access to Health Care at Risk
CHA has developed messages for members’ use related to the lawsuit against the Office of Health Care Affordability.
Toolkit: Tell Lawmakers – Stop Health Care Cuts That Harm Patients
OHCA must engage every sector of health care in making data-driven decisions that improve care access, quality, and equity.
New Resources Allow Hospitals to See Where They Fall Under OHCA’s ‘High Cost’ Methodology
What’s happening: CHA has created a data tool to help members replicate calculations used by the Office of Health Care Affordability (OHCA) to identify so-called “high-cost” hospitals and assess how close they may be to the threshold.