4140 Statewide Health Planning & Development
Program Descriptions

10 - HEALTHCARE QUALITY AND ANALYSIS

The Healthcare Quality and Analysis Program conducts applied healthcare outcomes analysis to produce public reports that address healthcare quality, outcomes, access and other relevant issues in order to improve access to and quality of healthcare with the intent of improving the health of Californians. Using data collected through the Healthcare Information Program, this program also produces data and products about healthcare cost, utilization and other trends to effectively meet the needs of healthcare policymakers, healthcare providers, health planners, public and private sector healthcare purchasers, researchers, consumers, and the media.

The California Health Policy and Data Advisory Commission advises OSHPD on the collection and reporting of health facility data, public access to data, health data regulations, and risk-adjusted outcome studies. The Commission holds hearings for health facilities appealing fines for delinquent data submission and as well as for applicants to the Cal-Mortgage Loan Insurance Program if necessary, and makes recommendations to the Director of the Office.

The Rural Health Policy Council promotes coordinated planning and policy development among state departments and between the State and local public and private providers, and conducts public hearings for the purpose of soliciting input from rural communities, including input from rural hospitals, rural clinics, healthcare service plans, local governments, academia, and consumers.

30 - HEALTHCARE WORKFORCE

The Healthcare Workforce Program supports the development and expansion of primary care, mental health and allied health training throughout the state, promotes healthcare workforce diversity and cultural competency, encourages providers to work in underserved areas, and promotes the recruitment of students into health professions. It includes the following program areas:

  • Health Workforce Pilot Projects Program- Provides the opportunity for healthcare related organizations to demonstrate, test and evaluate new or expanded roles for healthcare professionals or new healthcare delivery alternatives prior to amending regulations or laws. Under this program, trainees in approved pilot projects are exempted from other provisions of law. Pilot project results help guide changes to the Business and Professions Code.
  • Song-Brown Healthcare Workforce Training Program- Grants funds to family practice residency, nurse practitioner, physician assistant, mental health, and registered nurse training programs to increase the number and improve the distribution of these professionals in underserved areas of the state.
  • Health Careers Training Program- Serves as a health professions resource and liaisons between public and private partnerships to promote recruitment, training, placement, and retention of a multicultural and linguistically competent health workforce in California.
  • Shortage Designation Program- Liaisons between the federal government and healthcare provider sites applying for designation as a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) or a Medically Underserved Area/Population. These designations enable clinics to be eligible for assignment of National Health Service Corps Personnel or apply for Rural Health Clinic certification Federally Qualified Health Center Look-Alike certification, and New Start/Expansion Program.
  • California State Loan Repayment Program (CSLRP)- Increases the number of licensed primary care physicians, dentists, dental hygienists, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, certified nurse midwives, and mental health providers practicing in designated HPSAs. CSLRP is authorized to repay educational loans of health professionals, who in turn must obligate themselves for service in public or private non profit entities for a minimum of two years and maximum of four years providing direct patient care.
  • Healthcare Workforce Clearinghouse Program (Clearinghouse)- Established to serve as the central source of healthcare workforce and education data in the State. The Clearinghouse is responsible for the collection, analysis, and distribution of information on the educational and employment trends for healthcare occupations in the State. The Clearinghouse will be fully implemented in 2012.
  • Health Professions Education Foundation (a non-profit public benefit corporation)-Provides scholarships, loan repayments, and programs to health professional students and graduates who agree to provide direct patient care in a medically underserved area of California for one to four years. Programs serve allied health, nursing, mental health, and medical health professionals.

42 - FACILITIES DEVELOPMENT

The Facilities Development Program safeguards public health, safety, and general welfare through regulations of the design and construction of healthcare facilities to ensure they are capable of providing sustained services to the public.

45 - CAL-MORTGAGE LOAN INSURANCE

The Cal-Mortgage Program is modeled after federal home mortgage insurance programs, and insures loans to public and non-profit healthcare facilities for construction, renovation, and expansion projects. The Program facilitates access to private capital at no cost to taxpayers and has helped healthcare providers enhance the delivery of healthcare throughout California since 1972.

The Program underwrites loans, makes insurance recommendations to the Advisory Loan Insurance Committee, monitors the Cal-Mortgage insured loan portfolio, and administers the Health Facility Construction Loan Insurance Fund. The Program also administers loan payback provisions of Fire Protection Loans and the Eminent Domain Certificate Program for health facilities.

60 - HEALTHCARE INFORMATION

The Healthcare Information Program sets standards for, collects, and maintains financial and utilization data from nearly 5,000 licensed health facilities in California, as well as comprehensive demographic, diagnostic, and treatment data for all patients discharged from licensed hospitals, treated in emergency departments, or having had an ambulatory surgery procedure in hospital surgical clinics. This information is used by healthcare policymakers, healthcare providers, health planners, public and private sector healthcare purchasers, researchers, consumers and the media.

80 - ADMINISTRATION

Administration provides overall management, planning, policy development, legal, legislative, information technology support and administrative services to the OSHPD.