About Emergency Department/Trauma
California’s emergency departments (EDs) are filled to the brim (some 15 million people visit EDs every year) — often so packed that patients are forced to wait hours to be treated and ambulances are delayed in transferring patients to hospitals. Several things are behind this crisis:
- A lack of primary care clinicians that accept Medi-Cal
- A lack of post-hospital care sites (nursing homes, rehab facilities, mental health and addiction facilities, etc.) for patients and challenges with commercial insurance companies approving post-hospital care
- Workforce shortages
- Massive increases in the need for mental health and substance use disorder treatment
- Growing hospital financial distress, in part due to government payer shortfalls
- A dearth of alternative community care sites, like clinics or home settings
Without change, EDs — which accept all patients 24/7 year-round — will struggle to provide critical care to those experiencing trauma, injury, or acute medical conditions. Addressing this problem will take commitment and innovation from insurance companies, state policymakers, providers, and others to deliver better access to primary and specialty services, improved funding for ED care, and more.
Infographic: Emergency Departments’ Overcrowding Crisis
2025 Emergency Services Forum Focuses on Behavioral Health
What’s happening: Earlier this week, emergency care professionals from across California gathered in Newport Beach for a high-impact day of learning, storytelling, and collaborative problem-solving.
2025 Emergency Services Forum Is Fast Approaching
What’s happening: In just over two weeks, the 2025 Emergency Services Forum will take place in Newport Beach, where emergency services professionals will gather for a day of learning, discussion, and networking. Registration is open.
What else to know: At the forum, to be held May 5 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., attendees can expect dynamic sessions covering the latest updates in emergency services, insights into the evolving behavioral health landscape, an interactive Q&A forum, a closing session on the Emergency Medical Treatment & Labor Act, and more.
EMSA Withdraws AB 40 Emergency Regulations
What’s happening: On April 14, the Emergency Medical Services Authority (EMSA) released a withdrawal notice for its proposed Assembly Bill (AB) 40 (2023) emergency regulations.
What else to know: EMSA stated that it would take “this opportunity to revisit and refine the proposed regulations to better reflect the needs, values, and practical realities of the communities we serve.”
CHA Memo Helps Hospital EDs with Psychiatric Emergencies Under AB 1316
What’s happening: As of Jan. 1, hospital emergency departments (EDs) have a clear pathway for Medi-Cal reimbursement for behavioral health visits under CHA-sponsored Assembly Bill (AB) 1316 (2024). In a memo to members, CHA provides guidance to hospitals on the new requirements and their obligations for stabilizing or transferring individuals in EDs experiencing a mental health crisis.
Emergency Care on Life Support
A report released earlier this week by the well-respected and nonpartisan RAND Corp. underscores an alarming fact that hospital leaders have been saying for years: The viability of hospital-based emergency care is at risk after facing epidemics, a pandemic, increased patient acuity and complexity, and unsustainable declines in payment.
EMSA Releases AB 40 Emergency Regulations
What’s happening: On April 1, the Emergency Medical Services Authority (EMSA) released emergency regulations to implement Assembly Bill (AB) 40 (2023).
What else to know: Because these are emergency regulations, there will only be a five-day comment period. Comments are due to the Office of Administrative Law (OAL) by Saturday, April 5.
2025 Emergency Services Forum Takes Place May 5 in Newport Beach
What’s happening: This year’s Emergency Services Forum is happening in Newport Beach on May 5 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (PT). Attendees can expect dynamic sessions covering industry topics, insights into the evolving behavioral health landscape, an interactive Q&A forum, and more. Registration is open, and early bird pricing ends April 8.
What else to know: The forum kicks off with a keynote address by Liz Basnett, director of the California Emergency Medical Services Authority (EMSA), who will provide transparency on EMSA’s requirements, as well as share efforts to modernize and update regulations to meet emergency services’ increasing needs.
2025 Emergency Services Forum Returns to Newport Beach
What’s happening: In just over six weeks, the Emergency Services Forum returns to Newport Beach, where emergency services professionals will gather for a day of learning, discussion, and networking.
What else to know: The forum, held May 5 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., is open for registration. The deadline for booking at the discounted hotel room rate is April 14.
Comments on Proposed EMSA Critical, Specialty Care Program Regulations Due April 3
What’s happening: The Emergency Medical Services Authority (EMSA) is proposing to update a chapter of the California Code of Regulations (CCR) that covers critical and specialty care programs, including as trauma, ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), stroke, and emergency medical services for children (EMSC) systems. Written comments on the proposed regulations are due April 3.
What else to know: The proposed revisions — to CCR Title 22, Division 9, Chapter 6 on Specialty Programs — were developed in collaboration with the California state technical advisory committees for trauma, STEMI, stroke, and EMSC. Each committee included CHA representatives.