California Legislature—2015–16 Regular Session

Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 69

Introduced by Assembly Member Chávez

May 12, 2015

Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 69—Relative to Health Care District Month.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

ACR 69, as introduced, Chávez. Health Care District Month.

This measure would recognize the essential role that health care districts have in the State of California and would proclaim the month of May 2015 as Health Care District Month in California.

Fiscal committee: no.

WHEREAS, Health care districts are public entities that provide
community-based health care services to residents throughout the
state; and

WHEREAS, Health care districts were created after World War
II to address a shortage of access to acute hospital care for many
areas of the state, particularly the rural areas of California; and

WHEREAS, The first health care district was formed in 1946
and the first district hospital opened in 1947. Today, there are 78
health care districts in California, and 40 health care districts
currently operate 43 district hospitals. Their primary mission has
not changed, which is to provide health care services to the
communities that created them; and

WHEREAS, District hospitals account for 27 of the state’s rural
hospitals and 20 of the state’s critical access hospitals; and

WHEREAS, District hospitals provided $54 million in charity
care in 2012, and offered financial support to community programs
focused on the health and well-being of the children and adults
living in the health care districts; and

WHEREAS, Fifty health care districts operate in either a health
professional shortage area, a medically underserved area, or a
medically underserved population area; and

WHEREAS, Health care districts collectively provide a wide
range of services, which include acute care, emergency care, skilled
nursing and long-term care, community and rural health clinics,
ambulance services, adult day care, senior housing and nutritional
support, chronic disease management, health education, medical
transportation, home health, and hospice; and

WHEREAS, Health care districts cover 49,354 square miles,
provide services in 40 counties, employ over 32,000 employees,
and handle more than 4,000,000 patient visits annually; and

WHEREAS, Health care districts are formed by the will of the
people, with board members locally elected and accountable to
their communities. The health care districts are often supported in
part by local tax dollars in order to improve community health;
and

WHEREAS, Health care districts serve as an integral part of
the “safety net” for the state’s underinsured and uninsured
residents. In 2012, health care districts treated just over one million
Medi-Cal beneficiaries, which represents 10 percent of the
statewide total of Medi-Cal beneficiaries; and

WHEREAS, Each health care district is uniquely focused on
the specific needs of the community it serves. Health care districts
utilize varying revenue streams, workforce sizes, services offered,
and geographic locations to cater to the health services most needed
by their communities; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate
thereof concurring, That the Legislature recognizes the essential
role that health care districts have in the State of California and
proclaims the month of May 2015 as Health Care District Month
in California; and be it further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies
of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.