About Finance & Reimbursement
Vulnerable Californians who rely on the care provided by California hospitals are at risk. Driven by skyrocketing costs for labor, pharmaceuticals, regulatory mandates, and more, 53% of all hospitals statewide lose money every day to deliver patient care.
That isn’t sustainable. And California is already seeing the frightening result: rural health care services being cut to the bone, severe behavioral health care needs not being met, and more.
5 Things To Know: State Submits Hospital Fee Program 10
Last week, the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) submitted its Hospital Fee Program tax model for calendar year 2026 (Program 10) to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The submission is expected to generate about $5.76 billion annually in net benefits for hospitals, though hospital-specific impacts are not yet available because...
5 Things To Know: HASD&IC Joins Lawmakers, Hospital Leaders at San Diego Health Care Roundtable
SOn March 20, HASD&IC President & CEO Dimitrios Alexiou, along with staff from the California Hospital Association, participated in a health care roundtable hosted by state Sen. Catherine Blakespear (D-Carlsbad) and Scripps Health. The event, held at Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas, brought together California lawmakers and health care leaders from the San Diego region to...
Reflections from the 2026 ACHE Congress
Recently, I had the opportunity to attend the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) Annual Congress in Houston.
DHCS to Host Webinar on Real-Time Behavioral Health Data Sharing Requirements
On March 30 at 11 a.m. (PT), the Department of Health Care Services will host a webinar on recently announced real-time behavioral health data sharing requirements for managed care plans, county mental health plans, Drug Medi-Cal organized delivery systems, and Drug Medi-Cal counties.
Action Needed by March 20 on CHA’s Two Sponsored Bills
Last week, the California Hospital Association issued a dual alert asking members to sign on to coalition letters for its two sponsored bills: Assembly Bill (AB) 2353 (Pacheco, D-Downey), which would require an independent cost evaluation of mandates on hospitals, and AB 1923 (Soria, D-Merced), which would revive the Distressed Hospital Loan Program.
Preparing for the Impact of H.R. 1: Rebuilding Our Safety Net in San Diego and Imperial Counties
As we look ahead to the potential implications of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1), it is essential that we begin preparing now. Funding cuts, combined with work requirements for non-disabled Medicaid enrollees, an increase in the frequency of eligibility redeterminations, restricted eligibility for some immigrant groups, and tightened rules around provider taxes and state-directed payments, will require us to re-engage familiar strategies, adopt new ones, and strengthen our efforts to safeguard coverage for the most vulnerable residents of San Diego and Imperial counties.
New Board Begins 2026 Work to Guide Hospitals Throughout the Region
Last week, the HASD&IC Board of Directors held its first meeting of the year. As with each new year, we welcomed new board members, who are helping us navigate the challenges and priorities facing hospitals in San Diego and Imperial counties.
Insights From Economic Trends Event: What’s Ahead for San Diego — and Its Hospitals
Last week, I joined a panel of leaders at the San Diego Business Journal’s Economic Trends 2026 event to discuss the forces shaping our local economy in the year ahead.