COLLEGE MEDICAL CENTER
2776 Pacific Avenue • Long Beach, California 90806
562 / 997-2000 • www.collegemedicalcenter.com
June 14, 2022
Long Beach City Council
Long Beach City Hall
411 W Ocean Blvd.
Long Beach, CA 90802
We are writing to urge the city council to order an economic analysis to determine the impact of the proposed health care worker minimum wage measure.
While we agree our health care workers are heroes, and have supported and rewarded them as such, this measure is deeply flawed, inequitable, and will hurt workers, patients and our communities. Fully understanding this measure's implications for health care workers, providers and patients is critical.
The measure would set new, arbitrary pay requirements for some health care workers in some health care facilities, while excluding thousands of health care workers doing the same jobs in the City of Long Beach. In fact, the vast majority of health care workers in the City of Long Beach are excluded by the measure, creating a confusing, arbitrary and inequitable system.
This measure could lead to workforce shortages at smaller clinics and public health care facilities, as well as significant cost increases, which would jeopardize access to and quality of care for Long Beach's patients, particularly disadvantaged and underserved communities. It would worsen inequities in our health care system.
Two years into the COVID-19 pandemic, health care providers of all sizes continue to face massive financial losses. According to a recent study, for the first time in recent history more than half of California's hospitals are operating in the red.
We take great pride in providing competitive pay, strong benefits, and exceptional support for all of our employees.
For over 66 years, College Medical Center has served the City of Long Beach and its residents... we pride in providing care to our community with compassion and performing with distinction.
We urge you to order an economic analysis so that we can better understand this measure's implications for health care workers, providers, patients and the City of Long Beach.
Sincerely,
Celin
Joe Avelino, RN, BSN, MHSA, CPHQ
Chief Executive Officer