03/19/2025

CASA Members in Action

Joni Anderson, CSI Facility Compliance, Assemblymember Dawn Addis, Nancy Steffora, CSI Administrator Sharon Burton, CSI DON, Sara Bollinger, CSI IC

On March 14th, Assemblymember Dawn Addis (representing California’s 30th Assembly District) and her District Director, Andrea Chmelik, visited Coastal Surgical Institute (CSI) in Pismo Beach to celebrate an outstanding achievement. They proudly presented CSI with a Certificate of Recognition for receiving the prestigious 2024 CASA ASC Excellence Award.

During their visit, Assemblymember Addis and Chmelik shared their personal connection to the center, highlighting the trusted care CSI provides to the community. They were warmly welcomed by CSI’s dedicated team, including Alison Ramey, one of CASA's advocates, who joined the discussion on key healthcare topics, including the ongoing budget considerations for Medi-Cal and at-risk patients.

Dr. Edwin Hayashi, a valued Board Member, later joined the group for a tour of the state-of-the-art facility. The visit provided a meaningful opportunity to showcase the exceptional services CSI offers and the vital role ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) play in expanding access to high-quality, efficient patient care.

Assemblymember Addis, who represents multiple ASCs within her district, demonstrated a strong commitment to understanding the unique challenges ASCs face while continuing to provide essential healthcare services.

Reflecting on the visit, Nancy Steffora, RN, Center Administrator, shared, “It was such an honor for Coastal Surgical Institute to receive this recognition from Assemblymember Addis. The opportunity to engage in meaningful discussions about the future of healthcare and advocate for our patients was truly empowering.”

We encourage all members to take part in similar opportunities to engage with elected officials. With more than half of California’s legislative body entering office in 2023 or later, it is more important than ever to educate policymakers about the critical role ASCs play in delivering high-quality, accessible care to communities across the state about the critical role ASCs play in delivering high-quality, accessible care to communities across the state.