The Affordable Care Act signed in to law in March of 2010 by President Obama is the most sweeping set of changes to the healthcare delivery system since the enactment of MediCare and MediCaid. Over the next several years, major changes will occur at the federal state and local level. The Council will work to assist members deal with the changes and will represent hospitals at the county level as changes financing and delivery of healthcare to MediCal and Medically Indigent Adults occurs.

Hospitals are engaged in an era of unprecedented change and its demands on hospitals to do things differently.   The issues of public reporting and transparency, payments for safety and quality, the necessity of providing “high-value” to purchasers, coupled with significant payment reductions and the need to reduce costs, will continue to create challenges within our health care delivery systems.  The Hospital Council is engaging in education and peer-to-peer learning opportunities to help all hospitals to implement changes and to do so with greater staff acceptance.  The changes taking place (health care reform) in the hospital field require significant and rapid change and redesign of the way work is coordinated.  Coordination of care over time and across sites holds promise to improve safety and quality outcomes.

The Accountable Care Act of 2010 is making sweeping changes in the way hospitals provide health care throughout the full continuum of care.  Hospital Council members with inpatient rehabilitation hospitals and units,  long-term acute care hospitals, distinct-part skilled-nursing facilities and home health agencies will be challenged to comply with substantial changes in reimbursement, documentation and regulations.  Hospital Council will assist members to participate with other post acute care providers throughout the State by participating in the CHA Post Acute Care Center.

Government plays an integral part of virtually every hospital operation—whether it be reimbursements, regulations, or inspections. Our political advocacy program is essential to tell the “hospital story at the federal, state or local level. While CHA directs the efforts in both the Congress, the State Legislature, and the State and Federal Administration, the Hospital Council tells the story to Members of Congress and State Legislature when they are home and when working with their local staffs.