Hospital Operations

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.

Expanded Hospital Supplier Diversity Reports Due July 1

What’s happening: The first round of expanded Hospital Supplier Diversity Reports required under Assembly Bill (AB) 1392 (2023) are due to the Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI) on July 1.  

What else to know: In 2024, the Office of Administrative Law approved HCAI’s regulations to implement AB 1392. This year, the new reporting requirements are fully in effect — and HCAI has developed a new template to support and inform this updated reporting. 

CHA Publishes Web Page Dedicated to CDPH Checklists, Info Sheets

What’s happening: To assist hospitals in preparing for licensing and relicensing surveys — as well as making changes to their licenses, bed capacities, or services — CHA has created a web page that makes related resources easily accessible for hospital members.  

What else to know: The resource page includes the Licensing and Relicensing Survey Tool, General Entrance Conference List, Relicensing Survey Guidance materials, and more.  

CDPH All Facilities Letter Shares Change in Late Payment Penalty Notices

What’s happening: On April 4, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) issued an All Facilities Letter (AFL 25-14), which announced that the department is implementing a paperless process to communicate late payment penalty notices for Center for Health Care Quality health care facility licensing fees.    

What else to know: Beginning May 15, CDPH’s current practice — mailing a paper copy of the late payment penalty notice to the licensee — will change to a paperless process: CDPH’s Revenue Collection Unit will email the notice to the facility using the licensee email address reported to CDPH. If no licensee email address is on file, the unit will email the notice to the facility’s general contact email address reported to CDPH.  

Court Rules FDA Cannot Regulate Laboratory-Developed Tests

What’s happening: In a final judgment filed March 31, the U.S. District Court for Eastern Texas ruled that the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) does not have the authority to regulate laboratory-developed tests, rendering a final rule issued May 6, 2024, null and void.  

What else to know: This final rule phased out the FDA’s general enforcement discretion approach for most laboratory-developed tests to instead provide greater oversight.  

HCAI Seeks Feedback on AB 1204 Technical Assistance by March 31

What’s happening: The Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI) recently released a survey to the hospital field to ascertain hospitals’ needs in complying with Assembly Bill (AB) 1204 (2021), which requires that they submit annual health equity data reports. The first report is due Sept. 30.  

What else to know: The survey will help HCAI identify areas where additional technical assistance will be needed. Responses to the survey are due by March 31.    

HCAI Notice Details Information on AB 869 Seismic Compliance Delay Provisions

What’s happening: Assembly Bill (AB) 869 (2024) authorizes the Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI) to grant eligible general acute care hospitals a delay of up to three years beyond the Jan. 1, 2030, deadline for the seismic compliance of hospital buildings, provided that specified criteria are met.  

What else to know: Policy Intent Notice (PIN) 80 outlines HCAI’s policy for implementing AB 869’s seismic compliance provisions. Hospitals requesting a delay must submit their seismic compliance plan by Jan. 1, 2026. 

2025 HR Conference Wraps, Planning for 2026 Begins

What’s happening: On Feb. 19-20, more than 100 human resources (HR) professionals gathered in Long Beach for the 2025 HR Conference — where experts offered sage advice, answered questions, and provided best practices on recruitment and retention, artificial intelligence (AI), and more.  

What else to know: Co-hosted by CHA and the Hospital Association of Southern California, this was the first in-person HR Conference since 2019 — and planning for the 2026 HR Conference has already begun.

Registration Open for Chief of Staff Boot Camp 2025

What’s happening: The Institute for Medical Leadership is hosting its Chief of Staff Boot Camp 2025 — geared toward medical staff leaders, chief medical offers, hospital executives, and medical staff managers — Feb. 28 to March 2 in Los Angeles. Tuition begins at $2,195, and registration is open

What else to know: The Chief of Staff Boot Camp aims to provide new chiefs of staff the information they need to succeed in their complex role by sharing the knowledge and tools necessary to work collaboratively with peers, hospital administration, and staff members.