Capitol Corner | April 2024

As this report is being written, the Legislature is on their week-long Spring Break with Assembly Members and Senators gearing up for a very busy April.  This is on the heels of an especially busy March during which discussions began in both houses to figure out how to  close a state budget deficit of somewhere between $38 billion and $73 billion, how to address over 2,000 bills that were introduce in late February, and how to get themselves in most cases either re-elected to their current office or how to win races for other offices they may be seeking.  During this period, CAHSAH’s Policy, Advocacy, and Public Affairs Committee waded through the 2,000 plus introduced bills and took positions on those impacting our industry.  We will now spend the next few months advocating on those measures and lobbying for increased funding for the services we provide in the Medi-Cal program.  In that regard, we implore you all to register for our upcoming Virtual Lobby Day on April 9 when we will present a briefing on key legislation and hear from legislators and other policy makers during that morning session as well as that afternoon and throughout the next two days as CAHSAH makes appointments for you to meet virtually with your Assembly Member and Senator.  Virtual Lobby Day is a key part of our annual policy agenda, and we need your voice to help us make the case for our industry and our patients and clients in the halls of the State Capitol.  In March, CAHSAH also held another very productive quarterly meeting with officials at the Department of Public Health on home health and hospice licensure issues, and we had a very fruitful quarterly discussion with officials of the Department of Social Services Home Care Services Branch on licensure and other issues affecting home care provided by licensed home care organizations.  CAHSAH continues to fight your battles in Sacramento, and we are so grateful for your willingness to step in and make your voice heard on the wide range of issues facing home care, home health, and hospice.