What’s happening: Last week, CHA submitted comments to the Emergency Medical Services Authority (EMSA) on the proposed Chapter 1.2 Ambulance Patient Offload Time (APOT) regulations, which implement provisions of Assembly Bill (AB) 40 (2023).   

Earlier this week, the Californians for Health Care Workers’ Right to Vote campaign submitted nearly 1 million signatures to county elections offices to qualify the Health Care Union Transparency, Accountability & Union Member Right to Vote Act for California’s November ballot. 

What’s happening: Despite the concerns of Chair Mia Bonta, both CHA-sponsored bills —Assembly Bill (AB) 1923 (Soria, D-Merced) and AB 2353 (Pacheco, D-Downey) — moved out of the Assembly Health Committee on Tuesday. AB 1923 would expand the Distressed Hospital Loan Program (DHLP) and AB 2353 would allow for additional cost analysis of proposed legislation and regulations that impact hospitals.

What’s happening: On April 6, the Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Health held a hearing to continue its overview of the state’s budget condition and impacts of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). 

What’s happening:  Yesterday, CHA issued an alert asking members to write to the Senate and Assembly budget committee chairs and support the request for a one-time appropriation of $300 million for the Distressed Hospital Loan Program, as well as statutory changes to advance the program. 

What’s happening: Today, CHA submitted a letter to the Office of Health Care Affordability board urging it to account for all health care workers — not just those covered by collective bargaining agreements — in setting and adjusting the spending targets, or risk undermining broader workforce stability.  

A recent commentary from an academic whose primary source of funding is a national profit-focused insurance company takes unjust aim at hospitals and the vital care they provide to Californians throughout the state. 

Tuesday, May 5, 2026
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., PT

The Office of Health Care Affordability (OHCA) is preparing to make decisions with far-reaching implications for hospitals and CHA needs you.  

OHCA plans to reassess the list of “high-cost” hospitals that will be subject to dramatically reduced spending targets. OHCA’s use of revised data could result in hospitals falling off or being added to the high-cost list. This webinar will discuss what’s going on and help you prepare. Expert speakers will discuss: 

• How OHCA’s methodology for measuring hospital spending is evolving and why it is important. 
• How OHCA plans to promulgate regulations defining the enforcement process this summer and fall, including what may count as a justifiable reason for exceeding the spending targets.  

This is an essential opportunity to get up to speed on key developments and join CHA in advocating before OHCA. We need a strong, unified voice to be successful.

“California hospitals will be facing severe funding losses.” 

“If hospitals are starved for the funds they require to operate, they will be forced to cut back  on services.” 

“OHCA’s actions threaten the viability of the entire health care delivery system.” 

These quotes from CHA’s latest legal filing in our lawsuit against the Office of Health Care Affordability (OHCA) underscore what’s at stake for hospitals across California.