June 04, 2010 12:48am EST 

The California Hospital Association is an association that collaborates with its members to provide strong and effective representation and advocacy for the interests of California hospitals, patients and communities. A trusted resource, the CHA works with members to achieve legal, legislative, and regulatory accomplishments at the state and federal level. The association, based in Sacramento is the unquestioned statewide leader in the representation of the interests of hospitals and health systems in the state of California, representing almost 450 hospital and health system members and more than 150 additional members.
The advocacy that the California Hospital Association provides their members with is unparalleled in California. They act as advocates and representatives of all of their hospital and health system members in the legislative and regulatory arenas. With the goal of maintaining and improving access to high-quality, cost-effective, safe hospital and hospital-related services, the CHA works to shape policy at both the state and federal level. Their collaboration with their members is the key, as it strengthens their collective voice.
For example, the CHA collaborates on policies and strategies for health care issues with the American Hospital Association, as well as other national health care organizations to advocate at the federal level. Always present in Washington D.C., the CHA is able to effectively advocate on legislative and regulatory policy involving California hospitals and health systems. An example of advocacy at the federal level is the annual California Congressional Action Program held in Washington D.C.
A recent example of the CHA’s efforts to advocate is their new CHA Public Advocacy Program. They created the Public Advocacy program stemming from the desire for a greater public voice in key issues facing hospitals, and is guided by the statewide Public Advocacy Taskforce. The program is designed to help protect hospitals from adverse legislation and policies through public and stakeholder education as well as coalition building. Hopefully, the program will increase the public understanding of hospital issues and enlist the power of public concern to protect California hospitals.

You can visit the CHA website, where you can register to be a member, keep up with recent and relevant news, and much more.