The Chamber’s Health Committee is the collective, regional voice of employers, employees, and businesses within health care advocating for policies that improve health outcomes and experiences while controlling and reducing the cost of care. The committee is further charged with navigating the intersection between business and health care and advising Chamber membership on relevant policies and issues.
Through relevant and timely educational presentations, the committee also provides information to employers and their employees about ways to leverage workplace wellness and positively impact the regional workforce.
Furthermore, as a leader in technology and innovation, the Health Committee is the sounding board for the intersection between health care improvement and technological progress, with a substantial focus on interoperability issue and the future of health care.
The Health Committee meets virtually the second Wednesday of each month. If you’re interested in learning more about our policy committees or would like to join the Health Committee, contact Evan Strawn.
Committee chairs
Chair: Kaitlin Chell, University of California San Diego
Vice Chair: James Hauser, Aya Healthcare
Focus Statement:
The Chamber’s Health Committee is the collective, regional voice of employers, employees, businesses, and related stakeholders advocating for policies that improve health outcomes and experiences while controlling and reducing the cost of care. The committee is further charged with navigating the intersection between business and health care, and advising Chamber membership on relevant policies and issues.
Policy Platform:
The Chamber’s Health Committee is committed to supporting local, state and federal policies and projects that:
- engage our membership in efforts, discussions, and opportunities regarding health equity, improving patient safety, and patient outcomes
- preserves access and coverage to care, including the promise of coverage without regard to preexisting conditions,
- supports increased access to care and services, including those that are provided via new models made available by technological and non-technological innovations,
- provides solutions to the region’s mental health, substance abuse, and/or homeless challenges,
- incorporates business-friendly policies that provide for the voice of business to be considered prior to implementation,
- controls the rising costs of health care for employers and employees
- protects the limited funding available for health care, ensuring dedicated or otherwise dedicated funds remain stable and protects providers from cuts adversely affecting patients
- acknowledging that adequate rate reimbursements should create real access instead of coverage without access
- does not have significantly negative impacts to the state budget