Recently, the California Hospital Association (CHA) came to an agreement with the SEIU healthcare union that will affect cost, quality, and productivity in medical facilities across the state. In an effort to improve relations between healthcare administrators and unions, the new proposals may serve as an example to other medical facilities around the country.
It’s still unclear exactly which ballot initiatives proposed by the SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West (SEIU-UHW) were accepted; we do know of a few bills that have raised a stir among hospital administrators that the SEIU-UHW has consented to drop- those affecting hospital fees and health care CEO compensation.
“CHA and SEIU-UHW just reached agreement last night,” says CHA spokeswoman Jan Emerson-Shea. “There are still many details to address. That will come in the coming days, weeks, months. …”
Here are some basic points on the new healthcare union agreement:
- The previously proposed initiative to determine hospital costs and pay for executives have been taken off the board, to the relief of many healthcare providers across California.
- A proposal being upheld includes jointly funding Medi-Cal via a $100 million campaign.
- To increase Medi-Cal payments, the SEIU-UHW and the CHA must work together to find new ways to finance the healthcare system, on both state and national levels, improving healthcare options for low-income or unemployed citizens.
- A new code of conduct will be established to improve communication between healthcare union members and the California hospital industry.
- Many, but not all, California hospitals and other healthcare facilities are required to comply with the new agreement until December, 2017.
- California hospitals who have already agreed to the deal include Kaiser Permanente, Dignity Health hospitals, and Sutter Medical Center Sacramento.