A new report from the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) examines emergency department (ED) use across the state from 2005-16, focusing on ED use after 2014 — when the Affordable Care Act (ACA) insurance expansions were fully implemented.
While PPIC notes encouraging findings related to the ACA’s impact, it also identifies a need to more closely examine the role of EDs in an evolving health care system, especially since ED use has grown since 2005.
Key findings include:
ACA expansions resulted in a large reduction of the number of uninsured Californians, and did not increase ED use among adults under the age of 65.
Among non-elderly adults, women ages 19-34 have the highest rates of ED use, due in part to pregnancy-related visits.
Approximately 90 percent of ED visits are outpatient visits.
Since 2005, ED outpatient use has increased substantially across all demographic groups and for all reasons.
Are health plans offering any relief during this time for prior authorizations, member cost sharing, or other policies?
Many health plans have announced they’re suspending prior authorization requirements and waiving cost sharing for certain services, as well as offering other temporary support.
Shared by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), this tool addresses the special medical needs of children, and emphasizes how health care facilities must be prepared for both pediatric and adult victims of bio-terrorism attacks, including those resulting from dispersal of airborne or food borne agents.
February 20, 2025 | 11:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., PTFebruary 21, 2025 | 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m., PTHyatt Regency Sacramento – Capitol View Room1209 L StreetSacramento, CA 95814
The Hyatt Sacramento has rooms available at a discounted rate. For reservations, call (800) 233-1234 and mention the “CAH Financial Plan Meeting” or book online.
2023 Disaster Conference
Presented by members of California’s Regional Disaster Medical Health Coordinators and Specialists (RDMHS) team, this presentation highlights the process by which medical health resource requests are fulfilled, both inside and outside the region(s). The presentation details real-life examples, and provides an overview of the challenges faced, and solutions implemented, to fulfill these requests.
The initial steps to planning an exercise include identifying:
Exercise purpose
Proposed exercise scenario, capabilities, tasks, and objectives
Available exercise resources
Proposed exercise location, date, and duration
Exercise planning team and exercise participants
When planning for natural disasters, hospitals should focus on several key considerations.
This Mass Fatality Management Plan Template aims to assist hospitals in the development of their mass fatality management plans. It provides a structured format outlining essential components and considerations for effectively responding to mass fatality incidents, ensuring that facilities are prepared to manage such emergencies in accordance with relevant regulations and best practices.
Created by experts at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles as a deliverable for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Healthcare Facilities Emergency Care Partnership Program Grant, the Information included in this document is based on lessons-learned from the 2009 H1N1 Influenza outbreak. The information is intended to provide supplementary recommendations for pediatric pandemic influenza planning and can be used as an addendum to a larger pandemic planning document.
All skilled-nursing and nursing facilities are required by federal regulations to “have detailed written plans and procedures to meet all potential emergencies and disasters, such as fire, severe weather, and missing residents.” California’s Health and Safety Code and California’s Code of Regulations – Title 22, (T22) specify the “details” that are required in the facility emergency plan. To help facilities prepare for the external disaster plan review during the annual survey process, the Department of Homeland Security has developed an optional self-assessment tool.
