About Rural Health Care
California’s nearly five dozen rural hospitals, including 37 critical access hospitals, provide care to more than 2 million people. They are lifelines and economic pillars for the communities they serve. Many of these hospitals are on the financial brink, reducing services just to stay open and facing the possibility of closure. These challenges place the most vulnerable populations at risk as Californians will have to travel great distances to get the care they need.
The California Critical Access Hospital Network (CCAHN) is a statewide organization that creates collaborative working relationships among California critical access hospitals to strengthen their ability to care for their communities through sharing resources, education, and innovation.
CHA Urges Hospitals to Invite Members of Congress to Visit
What’s happening: CHA issued an alert encouraging members to meet with their representatives to discuss key issues like the 340B Drug Pricing Program, financial instability, prior authorization, rural health care, disproportionate share hospital payment cuts, and site-neutral payment policies.
What else to know: Members of Congress will be back in their districts for the entire month of October. These visits will not only strengthen relationships, but also help educate and inform your representative ahead of critical health care policy votes in December.
California Rural Hospitals Invited to AHA Town Hall
What’s happening: The American Hospital Association (AHA) Region 9 will hold a virtual Rural Advocacy Town Hall on Oct. 9, 10-11 a.m. (PT) through Microsoft Teams. Region 9 includes California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington State, Alaska, Hawaii, and the Pacific territories.
What else to know: The call will be led by AHA’s rural advocacy experts in Washington, D.C.: Travis Robey, vice president, political affairs, and Shannon Wu, PhD, director, payment policy. Susan Doherty, vice president for field engagement and rural health segment lead, will also join. All CHA member hospitals with membership in the AHA are welcome to register.
Invite Members of Congress to Your Hospital; Critical Health Care Votes Coming in December
Legislature Delivers Strong Results for Hospital Patients, California Communities
Last week, California’s Legislature concluded its 2024 session, with hundreds of bills now headed to Gov. Newsom for his signature or veto.
Update: Key CHA Bills Move Forward as Legislative Session Nears End
What’s happening: Two CHA-sponsored bills are on the governor’s desk and others are working their way through the legislative process. The Legislature is set to adjourn Saturday night.
What else to know: Awaiting action from the governor: Assembly Bill (AB) 1423 would create a critical access hospital funding technical advisory group and AB 1316 would require Medi-Cal managed care plans to pay hospital emergency departments for serving Medi-Cal beneficiaries experiencing a mental health crisis.
CHA Member Alert: Action Needed on Rural, Seismic Legislation
What’s happening: As the Legislature heads into its last month of session, CHA has issued alerts on two priority issues: the 2030 seismic compliance deadline and access to care in rural areas, specifically related to critical access hospitals.
What else to know: More information about CHA’s work on these and other priority issues is available on the CHA website.
Urge Legislators to Support Critical Access Hospitals
CHA to Host Webinar on Preparing for Extreme Heat and Smoke Impact in Clinical Settings
What’s happening: CHA will host the members-only Preparing for Extreme Heat and Smoke Impact in Clinical Settings webinar on Aug. 19 at 1 p.m. (PT).
What else to know: The webinar addresses heat-related emergency response plans and protocols and leads into the 2024 Disaster Planning Conference on Sept. 10-11. Registration is open.
Preparing for Extreme Heat and Smoke Impact in Clinical Settings
CHA Supports Federal Bill to Preserve Access to Care in Rural Communities
What’s happening: CHA sent a letter to the California congressional delegation in support of the Preserving Emergency Access in Key Sites (PEAKS) Act (H.R. 7931).
What else to know: The legislation would protect critical access hospitals (CAHs) in rural and mountainous areas by correcting a misalignment in Medicare’s CAH ambulance reimbursement requirements.