About Hospital Operations

Hospitals are grappling with staffing shortages, financial shortfalls, and extensive oversight and regulation. One in five hospitals is at risk of closure, yet hospitals remain committed to maintaining the care communities rely on and supporting the state’s health care workforce. To do this, hospitals are actively working with legislators and policymakers to find innovative and efficient ways to deliver care to all Californians.
DEA, HHS Extend Telehealth Prescribing Flexibilities
What’s happening: The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) extended existing waiver flexibilities for prescribing controlled substances via telemedicine through Dec. 31, 2025.
What else to know: This is the third extension.
HCAI Releases Policy Intent, Code Application Notices
What’s happening: The Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI) has released policy intent notices (PIN) on steel quality and quality control, and code application notices (CAN) for nurse stations and self-contained medication dispensing units (MDUs).
What else to know: Issued by HCAI’s Office of Statewide Hospital Planning and Development, these new policies and code changes aim to streamline, outline, and clarify various aspects of hospital operations.
2025 Rural Health Care Symposium
Join us in Sacramento at the Kimpton Sawyer Hotel for a unique symposium dedicated to California’s rural hospital leaders. Together, we’ll explore the specific challenges rural hospitals face and uncover valuable insights on a range of critical health care topics.
2025 HR Conference
The 2025 HR Conference is coming to Long Beach in February! Hosted by the California Hospital Association in partnership with the Hospital Association of Southern California, this conference will cover topics human resource professionals in health care need to know about.
CHA Releases Report to Help Hospitals Comply with New Laws
What’s happening: Hospitals can use the 2024 Report on State Legislation as they navigate the many health care-related bills the governor signed into law this session.
What else to know: The report summarizes the most significant health care bills of the year, as well as broader legislative changes that affect patients and employers.
CHA 2025 Legal Update Webinar Tackles Workplace Compliance in Health Care
What’s happening: CHA is hosting a members-only webinar on Nov. 13 from 10-11 a.m. (PT) to discuss recently enacted labor and employment laws that will impact hospital workplace operations in 2025.
What else to know: Erika Frank, vice president, legal counsel, is co-hosting this webinar with Gail Blanchard-Saiger, principal with Blanchard Saiger Law. Registration is open.
CHA Releases Resource Web Page for Nationwide IV Fluid Shortage
What’s happening: As hospitals and other health care providers nationally grapple with the shortage of IV fluids following the temporary closure of Baxter International’s manufacturing plant in Marion, N.C., CHA has compiled federal, state, and local resources to assist hospitals.
What else to know: Hurricane Helene hit the southeast in early October, causing widespread damage, including the temporary closure of Baxter’s plant — which, pre-Hurricane, manufactured 60% of the nation’s supply of IV solutions, producing 1.5 million bags per day.
HQI Quality Quarterly Spotlights Patient Safety Strategies
What’s happening: The latest edition of Quality Quarterly explores the prevalence of behavioral health conditions among California hospital encounters, the dangers of menopause misdiagnosis, new patient safety measures outlined by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), and the need for effective reporting of workplace violence incidents by hospital staff.
What else to know: More than half of California hospitals now use HQI’s Hospital Quality Improvement Platform (HQIP), which provides comparative analytics to help hospitals identify opportunities for improvement. Learn about HQIP’s new features and updates in this latest edition.
2025 Legal Update: Workplace Compliance in Health Care
Hospital Volunteers from Across the State Convene in San Diego
What’s happening: The 2024 California Hospital Volunteer Leadership Conference was held Sept. 16-17 in San Diego. More than 150 people attended, including volunteers, volunteer leaders, paid volunteer leaders, community partners, and others.
What else to know: Sessions focused on support and best practices for hospital volunteer programs, collecting metrics to tell the story of hospital volunteers, and the unique skills and benefits volunteers bring to health care teams.