Making the case that hospitals receive at least 60% of their revenues from minority patients and that minority businesses are getting only a tiny fraction of the billions of dollars in hospital contracting opportunities, members of the Los Angeles Latino Chamber of Commerce (LALCC) leadership and board strongly urged supply chain executives from PIH, Cedars Sinai, Kaiser Permanente and representatives from the Hospital Association of Southern California (HASC) to start immediately working with minority-owned businesses and to start awarding contracts to qualified minority-owned companies that have been under-represented in the hospital procurement business for years.   

Chairman Darrel Sauceda and Chair Emeritus Gil R. Vasquez recently met with significant supply chain executives and the HASC to urge for more contracting opportunities for diverse small businesses and to push for the immediate passage of AB 1392, a bill that would require hospitals to provide an annual report detailing hospital’s efforts to provide more business opportunities to minority, women, LGBT, and disabled veteran businesses.   

“For many years,” Chairman Sauceda said, “We've (minority-owned business) been excluded from opportunities for (hospital contracts) while minorities have provided hospitals with billions of dollars in revenues. Sixty percent of hospital revenues come from minorities.” Making the point that minority businesses are underrepresented, Mr. Vazquez shared that “businesses owned by minorities only receive 1-2 percent or less of all the hospital contracting opportunities awarded.” 

Citing previous attempts by LALCC to open hospital contracting opportunities that did not lead to any meaningful, successful procurement awards to LALCC members and other minority chambers, both Chairman Sauceda and Mr. Vasquez made a convincing case to promote Latino and other minority businesses.   

“You have to take a chance,” Chairman Sauceda told supply chain executives about contracting with LALCC members, “Our (chamber) members will work harder and will not let you down.” 

 To start the process for more contracting opportunities for minority-owned businesses, a Vendor Diversity Fair is scheduled for Thursday, June 29, 2023, from Noon–3 pm at the PIH Health Whittier Auditorium, 12401 Whittier Blvd., Whittier, California, 90602. Supply chain executives and hospital representatives will be available to discuss contracting requirements and opportunities.     

PIH Health, Communities Lifting Communities, and HASC are hosting the event. The Vendor Diversity Fair is a forum for diverse vendors and host hospitals better to understand each other’s business and contracting needs and build strong business relationships. Please visit the LALCC website for more details. www.lalcc.org  

LALCC members are encouraged to support the passage of AB 1392 with a letter of support or want to know more about it can visit the California Legislative Information website at:  

Bill Text - AB-1392 Hospitals: procurement contracts. (ca.gov)  

This Fair is open to all: Register Here