Articles

Future of Medi-Cal Advisory Group Continues to Explore Wide-Ranging Expansion Proposals

The Future of Medi-Cal Commission Advisory Group met this week and continued conversations around a very wide-ranging set of concepts to expand the Medi-Cal program. These themes center on creating a more member-centered, integrated, and outcomes-driven Medi-Cal system. The group discussed simplifying eligibility and enrollment, improving navigation and access, strengthening community-based and interdisciplinary primary care,...

CHA Letter Calls out Lack of Hospital Perspective Shared with OHCA Board

What's happening: Prior to its next meeting on Sept. 23, CHA submitted a comment letter to the Office of Health Care Affordability (OHCA) calling attention to the fact that key hospital information — gathered at a July workshop and submitted in 43 hospital letters ahead of OHCA's comment deadline — was summarily disregarded before the...

EMSA Launching New Portals for Specialty Care Data, Electronic Patient Records

What’s happening: The Emergency Medical Services Authority (EMSA) is replacing its Patient Registry and Hospital Hub platforms with California Patient Outcomes Portal (CAL-POP) and California Hospital Online Portal (CHOP), respectively, and establishing new platforms for specialty care data submission and electronic patient care record (ePCR) access.  

Comment Period Open for Misguided Weapons Detection Screening Regulations

What’s happening: This week, the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) proposed draft regulations implementing Assembly Bill 2975, which was passed in 2024 and requires that hospitals implement weapons detection screening at the main hospital entrance, emergency department entrance, and labor and delivery entrance if separately situated.  

DHCS Provides Guidance on Fee-For-Service Transition

What’s happening:  The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) has published new resources to support Medi-Cal members, providers, and partners ahead of the Jan. 1, 2027, transition of members with unsatisfactory immigration status from managed care to fee-for-service.