The recent HCAI Webinar on Seismic Compliance, hosted by the Department of Health Care Access and Information in California, focused on the implications of a proposed two-year delay for hospitals facing financial distress. This delay is an extension of the existing deadline set for seismic compliance, originally due by February 2033.

During the meeting, officials discussed the criteria for granting this additional delay, emphasizing that it would be considered on a case-by-case basis. The key factor is the circumstances beyond the hospitals' control that contribute to their financial difficulties. The discussions highlighted the importance of monitoring the progress of current projects and the evolving conditions that hospitals may face leading up to the deadline.

The two-year extension would only be evaluated after January 1, 2030, allowing time to assess the ongoing situations of the hospitals. As the original deadline approaches, officials noted that they would need to determine whether hospitals might require more time to comply, potentially extending the deadline to 2035 instead of 2033.

This meeting underscored the ongoing challenges hospitals face in meeting seismic safety standards and the need for flexibility in compliance timelines to accommodate their financial realities. The outcome of these discussions will be crucial for hospitals as they navigate their future compliance efforts.