In 1995, California’s hospital industry sponsored Senate Bill 697 (SB697), the hospital community benefit legislation. While SB697 was to serve as a “defense” for not-for-profit hospitals through community benefit reporting, the real strength of the law is the emphasis on local community engagement. Qualitative evidence suggests that in a number of large urban communities, SB 697 has improved the level of collaborative health improvement efforts among competitive hospitals and other community stakeholders.
Not all hospitals, however, have experienced similar successes. In fact, process requirements under SB 697 pose a number of challenges for hospitals that lack internal planning expertise or executive management’s commitment to community benefits. It is also a difficult process for those subject to contentious local politics.
The Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development administers SB697 and works to preserve and advance hospitals’ progress made to date. This is a critical charge given the increasing fiscal constraints of managed care on hospitals and political pressures from labor and consumer organizations. This discussion will highlight key strategies to ensure hospital community benefit processes, including identifying and meeting hospital technical assistance priorities, developing data and reporting standards, and establishing strategic relationships with other state (e.g., Attorney General) agencies and private (e.g., foundations) organizations.
Learning Objectives: 1. Describe results and lessons learned from the first six years of California’s hospital community benefit program. 2. List key challenges hospitals face in community benefit planning. 3. Describe key strategies employed by a state regulator to promote continued process improvements at the community level.
Keywords: Hospitals, Community Benefits
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
Disclosure not received
Relationship: Not Received.