Health Care Accountability Ordinance (HCAO)

• New rate takes effect July 1, 2013! Covered employers who make payments to San Francisco General Hospital to satisfy the requirements of the HCAO will be required to pay $4.00 per hour, capped at $160.00 per work week.
• New email list! Sign up to receive periodic email updates about the Health Care Accountability Ordinance (HCAO) and the Minimum Compensation Ordinance (MCO).

Effective July 1, 2001, the Health Care Accountability Ordinance (HCAO) applies to City contractors and certain tenants (such as those at the San Francisco International Airport and the Port of San Francisco). The HCAO requires employers to offer health plan benefits to their covered employees, to make payments to the City for use by the Department of Public Health, or, under limited circumstances, to make payments directly to their covered employees.

Effective July 1, 2012, covered employers who make payments to San Francisco General Hospital to satisfy the requirements of the HCAO must pay $3.75 per hour, capped at $150.00 per work week. This rate is adjusted for inflation annually on July 1.

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• Health Care Accountability Ordinance, SF Admin Code, Chapter 12Q

• Regulations Implementing the HCAO (PDF) Effective July 1, 2009

• Minimum Standards for Health Plan Benefits (PDF) Effective 1/1/2013
• Previous Minimum Standards for Health Plan Benefits
• HCAO Employee Notice (PDFs) Required Posting
  English  Spanish  Chinese  Russian  Vietnamese  Tagalog 
• Know Your Rights & Voluntary Waiver Form (PDF)  Employers must maintain copies signed by employees.
• HCAO Payment Option Form (Excel)  (PDF)
• HCAO Fee Option Rates since 2001
• HCAO Subcontractor Information Form (PDF) This form must be filled out by the Prime Contractor, who is responsible for the Subcontractor's compliance.
• HCAO - MCO Comparison (PDF)
• Sign up for our email list to receive periodic updates about the Health Care Accountability Ordinance (HCAO) and the Minimum Compensation Ordinance (MCO).

• Employee Complaint Form (PDFs)
  English  Spanish  Chinese  Russian  Vietnamese
• HCAO Employee Notice (PDFs) This is required by law to be posted at your workplace if your employer is covered by the HCAO.
  English  Spanish  Chinese  Russian  Vietnamese  Tagalog 
• Know Your Rights & Voluntary Waiver Form (PDF) 

• HCAO Contractor Compliance Declaration (Word) (PDF)
• List of Exemptions for the HCAO (PDF)

The following forms may be found on the City's Intranet:

• MCO Form P-360 Exemption & Waiver
• HCAO Form P-365 Exemption & Waiver

Free and Low Cost City Resources for Uninsured Employees:

• Healthy San Francisco
• Health Clinic Information (PDF)
• Health Clinic Map (PDF)
• Healthy Families (outside of SFGov.org)

 To contact us, please email hcao@sfgov.org or call (415) 554-4791.