About Health Equity
Disparate health outcomes are often the result of historic and systemic inequalities and unequal access to health care. This is untenable in a just society. That’s why California’s hospitals are committed to ensuring every Californian receives equitable, high-quality care. Hospitals alone cannot eliminate health disparities; it will take systemic reform and broad partnerships to improve the status quo. View snapshots of health indicators for CA’s legislative and congressional districts.
CHA to Host Webinar on Doula Access in Hospitals
HHS Issues Rules on Nondiscrimination in Health Care
What’s happening: The Department of Health and Human Service (HHS) issued two final rules to strengthen nondiscrimination protections in health care.
What else to know: These rules also aim to ensure equitable access to health care. Hospitals will need to update their policies and procedures to comply with the new rules.
Survey Spotlights Care Access Challenges Facing Central Valley Residents
What’s happening: The California Health Care Foundation (CHCF) convened health care leaders and community organizations in Fresno on May 15 to discuss the results from the 2024 Central Valley Health Policy Survey.
What else to know: The survey gathered responses from more than 1,500 residents in five Central Valley counties on the challenges they face accessing health care in their communities.
House Approves Bills Focused on Rural Health Care
What’s happening: The House Ways and Means Committee approved six bills that address a wide range of pressing health care issues facing rural communities.
What else to know: CHA will continue to work with members of the California delegation to support these measures and urge their passage into law.
Doula Access in Hospitals: What the Law Requires
Join this webinar and learn more about creating a partnership between your hospital and the doulas that serve your geographic area. Learn about the legal requirements associated with doulas as well as best practices from a hospital with a successful doula program.
CHA Works to Improve Bill on Implicit Bias Training in Maternal Care
What’s happening: CHA is working closely with Assembly Member Lori Wilson (D-Suisun), author of Assembly Bill (AB) 2319, on amendments to improve the bill’s implicit bias training requirements for perinatal health care providers.
What else to know: AB 2319 would expand provisions of the California Dignity in Pregnancy and Childbirth Act (Chapter 533, Statutes of 2019). CHA was successful in securing amendments that enable hospitals to implement the bill’s provisions and will continue to work with the author’s office on further clarifying amendments.
CHA Translates Required Patient Language Assistance Taglines
What’s happening: Regulations recently adopted by the Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI) under the Hospital Fair Pricing Policies Law require hospitals to provide “taglines” on patient documents in several different languages.
What else to know: The taglines inform patients that language assistance services are available and how to access them. CHA has included a tagline sheet with translations in 18 languages.
President Biden Releases FY 2025 Budget Request
What’s happening: President Biden submitted his fiscal year (FY) 2025 budget request to Congress.
What else to know: The budget is a blueprint of the administration’s priorities and is not legislation.
American Hospital Association Launches DEI Benchmark Survey
What’s happening: The AHA’s Institute for Diversity and Health Equity is asking hospitals and health systems to participate in a biennial survey that provides a snapshot of successes and challenges in diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts.
What else to know: Hospitals should have received a link to the survey on Jan. 31 from this AHA email address: surveysupport@aha.org. The survey will be open until March 29.
CMS-Compliant Health Equity Programs
Join this webinar to learn more and ask questions of experts on hand to help you through this process.