Even with recent legislative changes, meeting deadlines for mitigating earthquake risk under California's sweeping hospital earthquake preparedness law, SB 1953, could be problematic for as much as half of the at-risk health care infrastructure in the state. This California HealthCare Foundation (CHCF) report finds these challenges reflect shifting economic conditions and changed assumptions about the feasibility of retrofitting existing facilities, as well as the cost and complexity of building new structures. Hospital closures resulting from potential noncompliance with the law could reduce the availability of health care services in some communities, increase economic pressure on surviving hospitals, and redistribute the supply of services.

Seismic retrofit issues are complex, involving huge costs and affecting a vast number of individuals and organizations. For California's policy and health care decision makers, waiting to act until the closure deadline looms could result in an ad-hoc remedy that produces unintended consequences. The report outlines several options facing policymakers as they confront the challenges posed by the approaching 2013 and 2015 compliance deadlines.

This is the first report in a CHCF series, Facts and Findings for Policymakers, which synthesizes state health policy issues for the legislative audience.

The complete report is available under Document Downloads.