by Suzanne Potter
A new study found that in 2022, more than 240,000 hospitalizations in California could have been avoided with proper outpatient care. Most cases involved poorly managed chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, or COPD. These preventable hospitalizations strain an already overburdened health system.
Rhonda Smith, executive director of the California Black Health Network, which co-sponsored the report, said patients often aren’t listened to. “We hear countless stories about patients who end up hospitalized or misdiagnosed simply because no one paid attention,” Smith noted. Her organization helps patients learn to advocate for themselves and navigate a complex system.
The report showed higher rates of preventable hospitalizations among Medi-Cal recipients, Black and Native American residents, and English-language learners. Aligning Medi-Cal rates with those of privately insured patients could save the state $400 million annually in unnecessary care.
Kiran Savage-Sangwan, director of the California Pan-Ethnic Health Network, emphasized the broader impact. “Each preventable hospitalization costs the system—and all of us—because those expenses raise our premiums,” she said.
The authors urged state and federal policymakers not to cut Medicaid or eliminate coverage for undocumented Californians. They also recommended hiring more culturally and linguistically responsive primary care providers, who can better understand and meet patients’ needs. Expanding access to regular check-ups and community clinics was also listed as a solution.
Consumer groups push to curb electricity costs
The Campaign for Affordable Power is urging California lawmakers to pass reforms targeting investor-owned utilities such as Edison, PG&E, and SDG&E. Edison alone earned $1.6 billion last year and raised rates 85 percent over the past decade—far outpacing inflation and wage growth for most Californians.
Despite this, the company is seeking another hike from the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), citing costs from recent wildfires and infrastructure upgrades.
Lee Trotman of the Utility Reform Network in Oakland opposes further increases. “The way to stop these utilities is through public participation—by speaking up during CPUC meetings,” he said. “People don’t realize they have a voice in this.”
The California Senate Appropriations Committee is reviewing a bill today that promotes public financing for electrical infrastructure. Advocates argue it’s a more affordable option than bond-based funding, which carries high interest costs and long repayment periods.
Another bill headed to the Assembly Appropriations Committee would limit how utilities can use ratepayer money, banning spending on lobbying and non-energy-related advertising.
Other proposals would require utilities to pass cost savings on to consumers and prohibit power shutoffs during wildfire smoke days and industrial accidents—protections advocates say are long overdue.
