California hospitals cite $14 billion in losses, seek aid

DON THOMPSON

Associated Press

SACRAMENTO (AP) — California hospitals have suffered as much as $14 billion in losses by postponing elective surgeries and other procedures to clear space in anticipation of a flood of coronavirus patients that never occurred, the hospital association said Monday in asking state lawmakers to immediately approve $1 billion in financial aid.

"We emptied California's hospitals to make way," California Hospital Association President and CEO Carmela Coyle told a budget subcommittee, as most state Assembly members returned to the state Capitol for the first time during...