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…
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…
Half of all lifetime cases of mental illness begin by the age of
14 and three-quarters begin by age 24. In other words,
mental illness is a disease of youth — one with profound
long-term implications for children, their families and their
communities. California’s children’s hospitals — and
especially, our emergency departments — serve an increasing
number of youth in crisis every year. We have observed the
shortcomings in the current behavioral health system and we
recognized the opportunities for improvement.
This year, CCHA is requesting that the California Governor and
Legislature take steps to increase access to equitable health
care.
Medi-Cal provides coverage to over half of the State’s children
and those who rely on Medi-Cal are disproportionately children of
color. These children have been shortchanged
by decades of underfunding in the program. California
cannot make progress towards health equity if Medi-Cal continues
to underfund care for the most vulnerable children.
This week the Centers for Disease Control estimated that
pediatric hospital admissions have jumped by close to 100
percent over the past week. Child hospitalizations for
COVID are at their highest rate since the start of the pandemic.
In California, children now make up over 15 percent of all
COVID cases and that number is expect to grow.
Amid this surge, CCHA released the
attached statement urging families to vaccinate their
eligible children against COVID-19.
The California Department of Health Care Services is developing a
process to re-procure its Medi-Cal managed care contracts across
the state. In up to thirty-six[1] counties,
managed care plans that are currently covering Medi-Cal enrollees
will have to compete successfully for the privilege of continuing
to serve this population. Other managed care plans,
those that are not currently covering Medi-Cal managed care
enrollees, may also submit bids. Plans that are chosen
would begin operations under new contracts with the Department in
January 2024.
