According to a new study released by the Center for Studying Health System Change, the Sacramento health market weathered the storm much better than most California counterparts.  Despite the of economic downturn, Sacramento hospitals and health care leaders turned to collaboration and offering more innovative care.

Key findings of the Sacramento report include:

• Mostly stable over the last three years, Sacramento’s local economy is greatly influenced by the presence of state government. Residents have slightly higher education and income levels and a higher proportion of private health insurance than other regions studied.
• Several powerful hospital systems still dominate the market and lead innovation in health plan-provider collaborations.
• Most Sacramento hospital systems report strong operating margins. Yet pressure to contain costs has come from the economic downturn and the growing number of uninsured.
• Declining county revenues and budgets have led to reductions in state and county health programs and staff, at the same time that demands on these programs has increased.