The following statement is being issued by Carmela Coyle, President & CEO, California Hospital Association:  California hospitals are deeply disappointed by today’s announcement that Medicare payments to hospitals that operate off-campus outpatient clinics will be slashed by 60 percent over two years starting January 1, 2019. These clinics provide care to some of the sickest and most vulnerable patients in our communities the elderly and people who suffer from cancer, heart disease or other complex medical conditions.