HASC is urging hospital CEOs, government relations representatives and facility directors from hospitals within the city of Los Angeles to formally oppose the Final Implementation Plan for Exclusive Commercial and Multifamily Franchise Hauling System, prepared by the Bureau of Sanitation, at this week’s City Council meeting. Hospital representatives are testifying in favor of a hospital exemption.

The reasons for opposition: The plan inevitably increases contracting costs with no added benefit in terms of service and improved efficiency. Added benefit is important to area hospitals that are seeking to identify operational savings imperative in order to offset provider reimbursement cuts mandated by the Affordable Care Act to finance health insurance expansion across the nation.

Another reason HASC and its member hospitals oppose the Final Implementation Plan is because it excludes a comprehensive analysis as to how the hospitals concerns have been adequately addressed. Yet the Bureau in the same report recommends that hospitals be included in the exclusive franchise. In making this decision, the Bureau proposes an RFP to solicit vendor solutions that reinforce its recommendation, at the expense of hospitals.

For this proposal, HASC secured an exemption for the following items: medical, hazardous, radioactive, pharmaceutical waste, and construction and demolition.

Contact: Jaime Garcia, (213) 538-0702, jgarcia@hasc.org