Affordability

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.

OHCA Advisory Committee Solicits Applications for New Committee Members, Discusses Spending Target Enforcement at Latest Meeting

What’s happening: The Office of Health Care Affordability (OHCA) is seeking applications to serve on its advisory committee, which provides input to the office on topics ranging from the spending target methodology and sectors to workforce and quality standards. CHA encourages members to apply by the March 31 deadline, as input from health care experts is critical to ensuring OHCA’s policies support patient care.  

CHA Pushes Back on State’s Effort to Prematurely End OHCA Legal Challenge

What’s happening: On Jan. 15, CHA submitted its latest legal filing in the case against the Office of Health Care Affordability (OHCA). In December, OHCA’s attorneys asked the court to dismiss CHA’s lawsuit, alleging CHA and its members lack standing and did not sufficiently plead their case in the original challenge. CHA’s filing objects to OHCA’s request and demonstrates that the OHCA decisions on spending targets and related matters are ripe for judicial...

Ahead of Final 2025 OHCA Board Meeting, CHA Highlights Office’s Key Missteps

What’s happening: This week, CHA submitted a letter to Health Care Affordability Board Chair Kim Johnson, calling out extensive shortcomings in the office’s recent report on Monterey County hospital prices and asking the office to look at all the factors influencing health care affordability – including commercial insurance companies’ role in driving up costs.  

CHA Condemns Flawed Report as OHCA Board Returns Its Focus to Monterey Hospitals

What’s happening: The Office of Health Care Affordability’s (OHCA) board convened on Nov. 19 to discuss several items, most notably its newly released Investigative Study of Hospital Market Competition in Monterey County. CHA voiced deep concerns with the one-sided study and urged the office to course-correct to restore confidence that regulated entities will be treated fairly. 

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.