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.
Last Chance: Urge OHCA to Modify Enforcement Regulations
CHA Backs Adding Infection Measures to OHCA Quality and Equity Measure Set
What’s happening: Last week, CHA submitted comments to the Office of Health Care Affordability (OHCA) on its proposal to add four healthcare-associated infection (HAI) measures to the OHCA Quality and Equity Measure Set. CHA supports the proposal but urges OHCA to explain how it will calculate and compare hospital performance, as well as how hospital types will...
2026 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.
OHCA Must Prove Affordability, Access, and Appropriate Accountability
The Office of Health Care Affordability’s (OHCA) proposed penalties, already approved by its board, would wipe out three years of combined operating earnings for more than 100 California hospitals. That’s about one in four hospitals in the state.
OHCA Board Hears Overview of Draft Enforcement Regulations
What’s happening: The Office of Health Care Affordability (OHCA) board met last week, where attention focused on an overview of the draft progressive enforcement regulations and the advisory committee’s feedback on them.
OHCA Considers Penalty Regs as Comment Period Closes
What's happening: The Office of Health Care Affordability (OHCA) board is meeting today, with much of its discussion expected to focus on the office's recently released progressive enforcement and penalty regulations.
Hospitals Must Submit Labor Data By Nov. 16 for Potential Spending Cap Adjustments
What’s happening: Hospitals have only a short window to ensure that their non-supervisory organized labor costs are reflected in the spending target to which they will be held accountable.
In Letter to Lawmakers, OHCA Dodges Tough Questions and Confirms Hospitals’ Concerns
What’s happening: The Office of Health Care Affordability this week responded to a letter authored by Sen. Akilah Weber Pierson (D-San Diego) and signed by dozens of others asking key questions on the enforcement process.
OHCA Releases Penalty Regulations, Kicking Off Final Advocacy Opportunity
What’s happening: On Oct. 9, the Office of Health Care Affordability (OHCA) published draft regulations outlining the process by which it would enforce its spending caps, including rules for determining which entities will be subject to performance improvement plans and penalties, as well as how penalties would be calculated.
OHCA Releases Organized Labor Adjustment Regulations, Data Submission Template
What’s happening: Last week, the Office of Health Care Affordability (OHCA) published proposed emergency regulations for adjusting providers' spending targets based on nonsupervisory organized labor costs, known as NOLA.