The Case for Strengthening Public Hospitals, Emergency Rooms, and Trauma Centers in California

California hasn’t invested in its public hospitals, emergency rooms, and trauma centers, and has under-funded their services for years.

• California ranks 51st in the nation in MediCaid spending, which is one of the primary sources of funding for public hospital care.
• Every year, public hospitals have had to battle budget cuts, and under Governor Pete Wilson, County hospitals faced a concerted effort to de-fund and privatize their services.

California’s public hospitals play a crucial safety net role.

Public Hospitals serve as the core network of health care services for medically underserved communities and undocumented immigrants providing services such as trauma care, emergency services and basic health care services.  

• While Public hospitals make up only six percent of hospitals statewide, they  account for 55 percent of healthcare spending to the uninsured.
• Millions of low-income and uninsured Californians rely on these essential community providers for their care.
• Public hospitals serve a patient population that is 76 percent people of color.  

California’s public hospitals lead in many categories of critical, specialized care

• Public hospitals represent 62 percent of the state’s level I trauma centers.
• Public hospitals also provide key services including specialty burn units and neonatal care.
• Public hospitals train more than 50% of all physicians in California.

Healthcare reform must build and transform public hospitals, rather than undermine them.

• The Governor’s proposal aims to transfer $2 billion from public hospitals, emergency rooms, and trauma centers without a clear plan to guarantee that their essential services wouldn’t be undermined.
• All of the plans need to strengthen the role of public hospitals, emergency rooms, and trauma centers – and transform them into leading providers of quality care.