As California prepares for significant changes to Medi-Cal eligibility and coverage beginning Jan. 1, 2027, hospitals and health systems must be ready for the challenges ahead. Even before many of H.R. 1’s key provisions take effect, our region is already experiencing substantial coverage losses. Over 200,000 people in San Diego County and more than 3,000 in Imperial County no longer have coverage through Medi-Cal.
Hunger Awareness Month, observed every September, is a reminder that access to nutritious food is one of the most important drivers of health and well-being. The connection between nutrition and health is something your hospitals see every day — food insecurity affects patients and communities, contributing to poorer health outcomes, increased chronic disease, and greater demand for health care services.
San Diego’s emergency medical services (EMS) system depends on close coordination between first responders and hospitals to provide timely, lifesaving care throughout our community. Hospitals maintain around-the-clock emergency and specialty care capabilities, receive patients when every minute matters, and work closely with EMS clinicians to ensure a seamless transition from the field to the emergency department (ED). Two significant changes now underway will affect how hospitals fulfill this essential role.
Late last month, Imperial County reached a significant health care milestone with the Imperial Valley Healthcare District’s (IVHD) acquisition of El Centro Regional Medical Center. This is the final piece in creating a unified health care district (which also includes Pioneers Medical Center in Brawley), designed to strengthen care delivery and better serve residents in Imperial County. With bondholders having agreed to the transaction, the last remaining hurdle has been cleared, paving the way for the district’s completion. Bondholders are working through the final administrative and regulatory steps of the transition’s formal completion.
As our health care system continues to evolve, opportunities to come together, learn from one another, and discuss the challenges ahead are more important than ever. Registration is now open for the 2026 HASD&IC Annual Meeting, and I hope you’ll join us.
July 1 marked an important moment for health care in San Diego County as two significant partnerships officially took effect in North County, bringing together Tri-City Medical Center and Sharp HealthCare in Oceanside and Palomar Health and UC San Diego Health in Escondido and Poway.
As we prepare to celebrate the Fourth of July, we are reminded that this holiday represents more than parades, barbecues, and fireworks. At its core, the Fourth of July reflects our nation’s enduring commitment to service, shared responsibility, and strengthening the communities we call home.
San Diego’s health care community played a quiet but critical role in April’s historic moment for space exploration. When the Artemis II astronauts returned to Earth earlier this spring, local Navy Medicine teams were there to support the successful recovery of the crew and the Orion spacecraft.
Last week, the San Diego County Health and Safety Act (a measure that would raise the sales tax by a half-cent across San Diego County) qualified for the November ballot. This citizens’ initiative — which is supported by nonprofit and labor organizations, including HASD&IC — is focused on protecting health care, childcare and public safety, and addressing the Tijuana River sewage crisis.
During this Mental Health Awareness Month, we are reminded that behavioral health is an essential part of overall health. Increasingly, the pressures facing our communities — from economic instability to policy changes affecting access to basic needs like nutrition support, including loss of CalFresh benefits under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act — are contributing to heightened stress and mental health challenges.
