For many of us, hospitals are pillars of communities, representing safety nets that we hope will always be there. But there’s no guarantee they will be. A new report estimates thatCalifornia’s hospitals have suffered billions of dollars in losses in the last year, and that they could lose billions more before 2021 is through.
The causes: Loss of cash flow from elective and non-emergency procedures, as well as the tremendous costs of intensive treatment and increased staffing needed to care for patients who might spend weeks to months in intensive care units. The problem appears to be worst in areas of the state hit hardest by the pandemic, especially where they intersect with rural populations and high rates of government-sponsored insurance like Medicare and Medi-Cal. These public insurers typically reimburse hospitals at lower rates for care than commercial insurance networks.
This week’s COVID-19 update dives into the findings of the report, featuring Carmela Coyle, president of the California Hospital Association, and Gary Herbst, CEO of Kaweah Health Medical Center in Visalia.
Meanwhile, here’s a snapshot for Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, and Tulare Counties (note that some numbers may have changed between the interview and publication):
As of May 6:
- 4,837 total deaths out of 331,489 total cases
- 175 people hospitalized and 36 in ICUs
- 36 deaths reported in the last week
- 158 average cases reported daily in last week
- 1,717,044 vaccine doses administered to date
As of 1 week previous, April 29:
- 4,801 total deaths out of 330,381 total cases
- 202 people hospitalized and 32 in ICUs
- 20 deaths reported in the last week
- 143 average cases reported daily in last week
- 1,650,259 vaccine doses administered to date
As of 4 weeks previous, April 8:
- 4,681 total deaths out of 326,219 total cases
- 229 people hospitalized and 51 in ICUs
- 57 deaths reported in the last week
- 267 average cases reported daily in last week
- 1,273,798 vaccine doses administered to date
You can always find up-to-date information for your county here.
