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Kathryn Austin Scott
Senior Vice President, State Relations and Advocacy

1215 K Street, Suite 800
Sacramento, CA 95814
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(916) 443-7401
(916) 552-7540 Direct
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CHA News Article

CHA Secures Amendments to Nurse Staffing Ratio Bill, Continues Advocacy to Oppose
For CEOs, CNOs, Government Relations Staff

Kathryn Austin Scott

One of CHA’s highest legislative priorities this year has been Senate Bill (SB) 227 (Leyva, D-Chino), which would create duplicative and mandatory fines for hospitals if they do not meet required nurse staffing ratios. With help from member hospitals, our advocacy generated key amendments last week, including:

  • An exemption for hospitals that — in response to an unforeseeable and uncontrollable fluctuation — promptly make an effort to maintain staffing requirements
  • A 50% reduction in the fines (now $15,000 for the first violation and $30,000 subsequently)
  • A reduction in the length of time required to revert to a first violation (lowered from six years to three)
CHA News Article

Contact Legislators and Urge Opposition to Nurse Staffing Ratio Bill
For CEOs, Government Relations Executives

Kathryn Austin Scott Gail Blanchard-Saiger

CHA has extended the deadline for its Advocacy Alert asking members to urge their assemblymembers to oppose Senate Bill (SB) 227, which would create an unreasonable, mandatory penalty system for hospitals that do not meet nurse staffing ratios. The deadline for letters is now 5 p.m. on June 11. 

CHA News Article

Special Elections This Week Yield Legislative, Ballot Measure Results
For CEOs, Government Relations Staff

Kathryn Austin Scott

This week’s special elections yielded important results for hospitals, including the defeat of a Los Angeles ballot measure that would have taxed hospitals. Measure EE, proposed by the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), would have enacted a parcel tax (a type of property tax ) to generate money that would support smaller class sizes and staffing increases for the next 12 years. Hospitals in the LAUSD would have been subject to the new tax. 

CHA News Article

Hospital Leaders Advance Debate on Seismic Mandate

Kathryn Austin Scott

CHA member hospitals today gathered in Sacramento for a Lobby Action Day (photo gallery) to urge legislators to support Senate Bill 758 (Portantino, D-La Canada Flintridge), a bill that will be amended to give hospitals the flexibility they need to tailor post-disaster care to meet the unique needs of their communities. Today’s event followed a radio interview that CHA President & CEO Carmela Coyle participated in yesterday about a new report that says current seismic requirements may be outdated and prohibitively expensive.

CHA News Article

CHA Publishes 2018 Report on Legislation
Includes new laws that impact hospitals in 2019

Kathryn Austin Scott

CHA has finalized the 2018 Report on Legislation, summarizing important state health care legislation enacted during the second year of the 2017-18 legislative session. Developed to help hospitals understand the implications of the year’s significant bills, the report also serves as a reference tool for the broad range of legislative activity that occurred this session.

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