The Stafford Act encourages the development of comprehensive disaster preparedness assistance plans, programs and capabilities by State and local governments. It also provides grants and other assistance to state and local governments in the development of preparedness plans and procedures.
Hospitals continue to fine-tune their local disaster readiness plans and further detail how they will work with regional teams when disaster strikes. Although hospitals’ board of trustees are not responsible for the development and implementation of disaster plans, it is the board’s fiduciary responsibility to ensure that a clear plan is in place and that the funding and resources necessary to carry out the plan are available.
When a disaster strikes, access to services becomes even more critical. And yet hospital staff and emergency services providers can be victims of that same disaster. ASPR TRACIE has released an updated version of its Tips for Retaining and Caring for Staff after a Disaster to guide facility executives in assisting staff through the recovery period.
2022 Disaster Conference – Best Practice Showcase
Shared by Stanford Health Care, this tool demonstrates how hospitals and health systems can deploy their Incident Management Team and Command Center virtually. The resource offers helpful information on weighing pros/cons, examines application scenarios, and explores the challenges and opportunities associated with virtual/hybrid emergency response.
What’s happening: On Wednesday, Assembly Bill (AB) 1415 cleared the Senate Health Committee with vital amendments striking provisions that would have empowered the Office of Health Care Affordability (OHCA) to collect data from and set unique spending targets on health systems in addition to individual hospitals, other providers, and payers.
What’s happening: At its June 9 meeting, the Office of Health Care Affordability (OHCA) board discussed the office’s first baseline report, which highlights that total health care expenditures grew by 8.2% (from $378 billion to $409 billion) from 2022 to 2023.
To help members plan for and respond to the financial impacts impacts of disasters, the California Hospital Association has prepared this guide outlining considerations for hospitals as they develop a financial preparedness and response plan.
Pandemic planning is crucial to maintain effective hospital operations — from reducing disease transmission among health care workers to cross-training staff, preparation is essential to maintaining critical operations when key personnel are unavailable. Federal agencies have provided guidance for hospitals to prepare for and respond to pandemics; this paper offers actionable steps, templates, and model policies for health care leaders to ensure the safety of their workforce and the continuity of care during health crises.
Earlier this month, the Office of Health Care Affordability delivered its first health care spending report, an annual release intended to inform both policymakers and the public about California’s health care spending trends over time.
What’s happening: On June 20, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued its final rule on Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace integrity and affordability.