What’s happening: Governor Gavin Newsom will release his proposed budget for 2026-27 tomorrow, kicking off the state budget process and legislative budget hearings that will continue until the budget is finalized this summer.
What’s happening: CHA’s board has approved three advocacy priorities for California hospitals in 2026: Office of Health Care Affordability (OHCA), Securing Hospitals, and Ballot Initiatives. New and updated advocacy materials for two of these priority issues are available on CHA’s website.
SACRAMENTO (January 13, 2026) — Julie Sprengel, President of Dignity Health California, a member of CommonSpirit Health, has been elected 2026 chair of the California Hospital Association’s Board of Trustees. Sprengel, who joined Dignity Health in 2016 as the then-Southern California Service Area SVP, now leads one of California’s largest not-for-profit health systems. In her role as head of the largest region within CommonSpirit, Sprengel oversees 45,000 employees and 15,000 physicians working at 29 acute care hospitals and more than 250 ambulatory care sites across the state.
What’s happening: At its Jan. 14 meeting, the Proposition 35 Protect Access to Health Care Act Stakeholder Advisory Committee was presented a revised spending plan for calendar years 2025 and 2026. The spending plan reflects investments supported by managed care organization (MCO) tax proceeds generated from taxes imposed on Medi-Cal managed care plans.
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.
