Like much of the country, San Francisco has no sub-acute beds available for any of its residents. People needing them typically have an illness, injury or disease that doesn't need hospitalization, but still requires round-the-clock, lower-level medical supervision. Such facilities struggle to survive because of the high cost of providing this level of care and low Medicare/Medi-Cal reimbursement rates. Many have had to close.

Through my efforts to improve access, I'm happy to report 23 sub-acute beds will be available in about a year at Chinese Hospital. Two milestones have been reached. Phase One, dubbed the Mechanical Backbone Project, was just completed at the Chinatown site with the help of $5 million that I secured from the 2022-23 California state budget. Much of the section's infrastructure where the sub-acute unit will be located required updating and remodeling.

With that portion done, I announced today another $5 million I secured, allocated from the current state budget, allowing Phase Two, the construction of the new wing itself, to begin.

Too many families needing this care have struggled or are struggling today. The Simpsons in the Excelsior, for example, spent months looking for a sub-acute bed for their sister. Ru Sen Zhao, who does not own a car, rides public transit for hours to visit his son in Daly City.

While the City needs far more sub-acute beds, my hope is healthcare providers see the necessity of offering this vital service and reconsider coming back.

PHIL TING
Assemblymember, 19th District