Local Government Hearing

As you know, the Assembly Local Government Committee held an oversight hearing, "The Evolution of Healthcare Districts" yesterday in the Capitol. 

Please find the hearing agenda and background paper, here, and handouts provided by speakers on the Committee Webpage, here.

Additionally, you can watch the recorded video of the hearing here.

Assemblymember Cecilia Aguiar-Curry, Chair of the Assembly Local Government Committee, kicked off the hearing with opening comments, stating that the goal of the hearing was to learn more about Healthcare Districts and the role that LAFCO plays in their oversight.  She then went on to express her disappointment over the fact that the committee staff was unable to confirm a speaker from one of 4 Healthcare Districts in the Central Valley that no longer provides direct services.  This disappointment was mentioned several times throughout the hearing, including in her closing remarks, and raised some concern for other members of the committee as well. 

Several members of the committee joined the hearing for short amounts of time, including Assemblymembers Tim Grayson, Tom Lackey, and Randy Voepel.  Assemblymember Anna Caballero was the only member that was present for the entire hearing; she raised several concerns about Districts that are not transparent and potentially not acting in the public's best interest, she also asked thoughtful questions throughout the hearing and seemed eager to hear from panelists. 

The Committee heard from the Legislative Analyst office who provided an overview of Healthcare Districts, as well as background on Healthcare District law and general practices of Districts from an attorney who works with Healthcare Districts, LAFCOs and represented the City of Concord when they took responsibility for Mt. Diablo Healthcare District. This overview was straightforward and informative.

The case studies presented by Healthcare District representatives were very well done and reflected examples of Healthcare Districts providing essential health care services to their communities that otherwise would not exist. The panel consisted of: Ted Owens, Executive Director Governance & Business Development, Tahoe Forest Hospital District; Barry Jantz, Chief Executive Officer, Grossmont Healthcare District; Karin Hennings, Administrative Director, Del Puerto Healthcare District.

The final presentation to the committee included perspectives from LAFCOs who discussed LAFCO oversight and recent reorganizations of Healthcare Districts.  The Committee heard from the Contra Costa Local Agency Formation Commission regarding the reorganization of Mt. Diablo Healthcare District as a dependent District under the City of Concord and the Sonoma Local Agency Formation Commission regarding the very recent detachment of a portion of the Palm Drive Healthcare District and their long standing financial struggles of that District. 

 

Amber King, ACHD's Senior Legislative Advocate, provided brief comments during the public testimony, outlining the proactive efforts of ACHD through the Working Group on increased good governance, transparency, public awareness, and modernizing the Healthcare District Law. Public testimony was also provided by Camarillo Health Care District, Beach Cities Health District, the California Special Districts Association, and two members of the public who supported the detachment of Palm Drive Health Care District.   

The Chair closed the hearing expressing her disappointment with the Healthcare Districts that were not responsive to their invitation to be present for the hearing. 

It is clear that the committee recognizes the need for increased resources for LAFCOs, and is potentially interested in seeking increased oversight of Healthcare Districts to ensure they acting in a transparent and effective manner, and utilizing their funds to enhance the health of their communities.  

ACHD is working on a strategic approach to address the concerns raised and has initiated the Healthcare District Law re-write process through the Working Group.  Stay tuned for updates on the progress of the Working Group and ways you can assist our strategic efforts. 

Legislative Webinar

Thank you to the members that participated in our first ever Legislative Webinar on March 2nd.  The webinar was a huge success and very well received by those that participated. The Advocacy team discussed what to expect for the 2017 legislative session, introduced legislation to date, previewed ACHD's Legislative Day and discussed key messaging points to use when meeting with your Legislators.

If you were unable to participate, but would like a copy of the slide presentation, please contact Annie Hohn. We look forward to hosting more educational webinars throughout the year.

Little Hoover Commission

As we reported last week, the Little Hoover Commission held a business meeting on Thursday, February 23rd, to review Commission staff's draft report on Special Districts.  After much debate and discussion regarding weather or not the staff's recommendations "go far enough", the Commission chose not to move forward with recommendations, as they felt additional information was needed.  The report has been tabled at this time, with a follow-up hearing tentatively scheduled for September.  The Commission staff is hopeful for a resolution to this delay at the Commission's meeting later this month. ACHD will keep you updated on the Commission's actions and any future hearing dates.

 

Please contact Amber King at (916) 266-5207 with questions or comments.

Thank you again to those that attended our 2017 Leadership Academy! Please enjoy this video recap of the event.

 

Additionally, those that attended the event should have received their AB 1234 Certificates.  If you did not receive a certificate, please contact Sheila Johnston.

To view pictures from the event, click here. Please remember to save the date for our 2018 Academy, taking place February 7-9, 2018, in Sacramento!

Please contact Sheila Johnston with questions.

 

When: September 13-15, 2017

Where: Kona Kai Resort and Spa, 1551 Shelter Island Drive, San Diego, CA 92106

 

ACHD is tracking three priority items in this year's budget debate, focused on health care workforce issues.

 

First, ACHD is supporting a request from the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (OSHPD) to implement AB 2024 (Wood), an ACHD-supported measure authorizing federal critical access hospitals to directly hire physicians. OSHPD is seeking additional resources to conduct data collection and prepare a study to determine the efficacy of authorizing these hospitals to directly hire physicians. Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 1 has already heard this item and held it open, pending additional information from the May Revision. Senate Budget Subcommittee No. 3 will hear this item on April 27.

 

ACHD is also supporting the restoration of $100 million to support and expand the Song Brown Program for purposes of clinical training primary care physicians, family nurse practitioners, primary care physician assistants, and registered nurse students. The $100 million was slated to be allocated over a three-year period. Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 3 denied the Governor's the proposal to eliminate the funding. Senate Budget Subcommittee No. 3 will hear this item on April 27.

 

Finally, ACHD is supporting efforts to ensure that $40 million in Proposition 56 (the recently approved tobacco tax) funding is appropriately directed to the University of California for purposes of funding graduate medical education. The Governor's budget proposal pulled $40 million out of the UC budget and replaced it with Proposition 56 funding, leaving a gap in UC funding and new funding for graduate medical education in jeopardy. Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 2 heard the general University of California budget on March 9. Senate Budget Subcommittee No. 1 will hear this matter on April 27.

 

Look for additional updates on the budget as we progress toward the May Revision.

                                                

The Association of California Healthcare Districts (ACHD) is a member of  Californians Allied for Patient Protection (CAPP), the coalition created to protect access to health care through California's Medical Injury Compensation Reform Act (MICRA).  ACHD continues to strongly support the preservation of MICRA. 

In 2014, California voters definitively rejected Proposition 46, an attempt by the trial lawyers to quadruple MICRA's non-economic damages cap. Had this ballot measure passed, California would have seen higher health care costs and decreased access to care, especially among vulnerable populations who are most in need. Despite this victory, the battle to protect MICRA continues and

 

ACHD is strongly urging its members to individually become supporters of the CAPP coalition.

 

There is no cost to be a member of CAPP, and you will be in good company.  Seven out of 10 Board Members are already CAPP members, with more than 1,000 other organizations representing community clinics, hospitals, physicians, nurses, EMTs, labor unions, local governments, dentists and other health care providers. A complete coalition list can be found on the CAPP website at www.micra.org .

 

As a CAPP member, you will receive quarterly newsletters with updates on legislative activities concerning MICRA and direct access to the CAPP staff to be your one stop resource on MICRA. Additionally, CAPP holds events for legislators in their legislative district and CAPP members are invited to attend free of cost.

 

Please take a moment to complete and return the CAPP Coalition Sign-Up Form .  Thank you for endorsing this important organization and its goal to preserve MICRA.