CCHA |

Who We Are

For over 20 years, the California Children’s Hospital Association (CCHA) has been advancing the needs of the State’s children’s hospitals through public and legislative advocacy. The Association works with state and national leaders in government and private industry to address issues impacting the hospitals’ ability to provide the best care possible to the children of California, especially those with special and complex...

What We Do

California’s eight regional, private non-profit Children’s Hospitals are legally defined in the California Welfare & Institutions Code Section 10727. These hospitals treat children with the most serious and life-threatening diseases such as leukemia and other cancers, heart complications, sickle cell anemia, diabetes, HIV, and cystic fibrosis. Children’s Hospitals provide multi-disciplinary health care to children from all...

Advocacy & Issues

Our Challenges Payment for Services Medi-Cal is the primary payer for services rendered at Children’s Hospitals; half of the Children’s Hospitals’ caseload is paid for by Medi-Cal. Meanwhile, only 20 percent of the State Medi-Cal budget is devoted to the care of children. Sickest Children Challenge Physicians tend to refer the sickest children, whose treatments are complex and expensive, to Children’s Hospitals. Complex...

Payment for Services Issues

Medi-Cal is the primary payer for services rendered at Children’s Hospitals; half of the Children’s Hospitals’ caseload is paid for by Medi-Cal.

Sickest Children Challenge

Physicians tend to refer the sickest children, whose treatments are complex and expensive, to Children’s Hospitals. Complex surgical cases can cost five to six times more per day than an average case at a community hospital.

Provider Shortage Challenge

Children’s Hospitals serve as important pediatric medical research centers. Direct graduate medical education expenses incurred by Children’s Hospitals in California annually exceed $90 million.

About Our Members

California’s eight Children’s Hospitals (as defined by the California Welfare & Institutions code 10727) treat children with serious and life-threatening diseases like leukemia and other cancers, heart problems, sickle cell anemia, diabetes, HIV, and cystic fibrosis.