Search: Seismic Compliance

Some California hospitals may have trouble meeting looming state seismic rebuild deadlines because of a soft credit market and deteriorating revenue, according to a member survey by the state hospital association.

Some 28% of hospitals responding to the survey said they have seen interest expenses rise in the first quarter of 2009, while 45% said their operating margins have declined this year, according to the survey of hospital chief financial officers conducted in April.

A majority of California hospitals won't be able to meet state-mandated deadlines for seismic retrofitting because of the nation's credit crunch and their own deteriorating revenues.

A new survey finds most hospitals in California won't meet the state's 2013 deadline for seismic retrofitting. The state could force those hospitals to close their doors.

A recent report by the California Hospital Association, based on an April survey of about 130 California hospital CFOs, warns that nearly two-thirds (64 percent) of them say their facilities won’t be able to get the capital needed to comply with 2013/2015 deadlines. CHA blames the ongoing credit crunch, “deteriorating hospital revenues caused in large part by governmental underfunding” of Medicare and Medi-Cal, devaluation of investments, increasing numbers of uninsured patients and other woes.

Delays in state deadlines for hospital seismic work, due to a new law and the regulations implementing it, could save California hospitals billions of dollars in coming years, experts say.

Almost 200 California hospital buildings have won a break that allows them to put off earthquake safety repairs required under state law until 2030.

Recession-battered California hospitals are asking state lawmakers to provide relief from seismic safety rules that could prompt closure of facilities that don't meet impending deadlines.

Pressure is building to relax California’s seismic rebuild deadlines for hospitals, but the state may add a stick to go along with that carrot. Robert David, chief deputy director of the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development, the state agency responsible for hospital building projects, said OSHPD understands pushing back the January 2013 deadline is almost inevitable. Currently, hospitals can win an extension to 2015 for financial reasons.