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.
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
OHCA Board Continues Aggressive Enforcement Planning, Signals Spending Targets Won’t be Changed
What’s happening: The Office of Health Care Affordability’s (OHCA’s) board met on December 17 to discuss several issues, including enforcement of and updated data related to the spending targets, as well as the office’s recent work to develop a methodology for measuring hospital spending.
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 to Host 2025 Legislative Wrap-Up Webinar on Dec. 3
What’s happening: On Dec. 3 from 2:30- 4 p.m. (PT), a panel of CHA experts will cover key legislation from the 2025 session, highlight crucial deadlines, and answer members’ questions.
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.
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.