Dignity praised even as it rebrands some departments
For those local businesses which are struggling because of the coronavirus, don’t forget that Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an executive order giving small businesses until the end of July to file their first- quarter tax returns. More broadly, the order gives a 90- day extension on returns and payments for all businesses with returns of less than $ 1 million.
It comes as California prepares to enter 2021 still in the throes of the coronavirus pandemic, which has led Newsom to implement restrictions that have shuttered businesses. In most of the state, restaurants are closed for indoor dining, hair and nail salons can’t operate and stores can only allow in a fraction of customers. At minimum, it will be weeks before businesses can reopen.
The tax extension was one piece of Newsom’s pandemicrelated order.
He also extended occupancy laws for farmworkers and their families in housing centers and dropped a requirement about how far away from the job workers must live to access that housing. Previously, workers had to live outside a 50- mile radius from the housing center for three of the past six months and could only live in the housing for 275 days out of the year.
It also updates quarantine guidelines under the state Division of Occupational Safety and Health. The changes are consistent with new state health guidance. California previously directed employers to keep workers who had been exposed to the virus off the job for two weeks. That’s been reduced to 10 days if the person doesn’t have symptoms, aligning with federal guidelines.
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California Health and Human Services Agency Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly, along with Cal Hospital Compare, recently recognized hospitals across California for their high performance in maternity care and commitment to appropriate opioid use.
California hospitals use these honor rolls as a tool to evaluate and benchmark performance against other hospitals. Dignity Health Woodland Memorial Hospital was one of 32 hospitals in the state that met performance standards in both maternity and opioid care.
“As healthcare providers we have the unique opportunity to make life- changing and long lasting- effects on a person’s health, whether that be in a delivery room or in our emergency room, and we don’t take that responsibility lightly,” said Edmundo Castañeda, Woodland Memorial Hospital president. “By extending ourselves outside of our required quality benchmarks, and taking part in annual measurements like these of Cal Hospital Compare, we ensure that we’re constantly holding ourselves to the highest standards of care. I am so proud of all involved in this incredible accomplishment.”
And in related news, the Dignity Health Medical Foundation announced the rebrand of Mercy Imaging Centers to Dignity Health Advanced Imaging, as well as a new partnership agreement with Hill Physicians Medical Group.
As of Jan. 1, DHAI is now the primary, preferred imaging provider for HPMG patients with Western Health Advantage insurance. As such, all Hill medical group patients with Western Health Advantage will only be referred to advanced imaging or independent imaging locations.
“We are proud of our long- standing and successful partnership with Hill Physicians Medical Group,” said Rich Martinez, executive director of Outpatient Imaging, Dignity Health Advanced Imaging. “Providing access to affordable high- quality care is a key focus for both organizations, and we are very excited for what this new alignment will mean for HPMG patients and improving continuity of care.”
DHAI provides imaging services in the Sacramento region and has six imaging centers and seven diagnostic imaging centers throughout the Sacramento region that offer 3D mammography, MRI, and digital X- ray’s among many other specialty services. DHAI also has three diagnostic imaging centers located in the Woodland area.
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Yolo County continues to work with agencies such as Legal Services of Northern California, Yolo County Housing and several local cities, to provide housing stability resources for residents during the pandemic and encourages tenants who are facing eviction or housing issues to explore options available locally and statewide.
The following resources are available to tenants and landlords seeking relief and assistance on evictions or housing issues:
Eviction Moratorium ( statewide): Assembly Bill No. 3088 ( AB 3088) supersedes previous statewide eviction moratoriums and extends protections for local renters through January 31, 2021. LSNC has created a series of videos to help navigate residents through their protections and the process. Videos in English and Spanish can be found here and Russian are available here.
Tenant and Landlord Rights: The California Department of Real Estate has developed an online information app available here that provides a 2- minute interactive tool to help you determine your rights and options as either a tenant or landlord. Upon completion of the questionnaire, you will receive a customized report with guidance, program availability and applicable links for further information and assistance.
Yolo County Housing Rent and Utility Relief: This Countywide program supports residents who are at greatest risk of displacement due to non- payment of rent related to the COVID- 19 pandemic and offsets corresponding lost revenue that landlords need to provide housing services. The program provides a one- time rent relief grant directly to landlords on behalf of low- income tenants. Additional information can be found on the Yolo County Housing website in English and Spanish.
For information regarding COVID- 19, please visit: http:// www. yolocounty. org/ coronavirus. For updates, follow Yolo County on Facebook at: https:// www. facebook. com/ YoloCounty/ or Twitter at: https:// twitter. com/ YoloCountyCA.