What’s happening: On Dec. 26, the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) uploaded three new hospital-directed payment encounter files, available via the Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP) site. The SFTP site is not intended for long-term storage, so files will be deleted Feb. 5.
What’s happening: Governor Gavin Newsom will release his proposed budget for 2026-27 tomorrow, kicking off the state budget process and legislative budget hearings that will continue until the budget is finalized this summer.
What’s happening: On Dec. 29, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the much-anticipated Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) award announcements. While all 50 states were awarded RHTP funds, California earned an award of $233.6 million in the first year, the third-highest dollar amount award of any state.
What’s happening: DataSuite has issued two hospital-specific analyses of calendar year (CY) 2026 final rules on the outpatient prospective payment system (OPPS) and Medicare home health. The OPPS analysis is intended to show providers how Medicare outpatient fee-for-service payments will change from CY 2025 to 2026. The home health analysis is intended to show home health agencies how Medicare fee-for-service payments may change from CY 2025 to CY 2026.
What’s happening: On Dec. 29, 2025, the U.S. District Court of Maine blocked implementation of the federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) 340B Rebate Model Pilot Program from going into effect nationwide on January 1, 2026, pending further orders from the court.
What’s happening: The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) has until March 13 to submit a revised 2025 Hospital Quality Assurance Fee Program application to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), following questions CMS raised about the program’s size.
What’s happening: Summaries of the calendar year (CY) 2026 home health prospective payment system (PPS) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) PPS final rules are available for CHA members.
What’s happening: A summary of the calendar year (CY) 2026 physician fee schedule (PFS) final rule is available for CHA members.
What’s happening: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued the contract year 2027 proposed rule for Medicare Advantage (MA) and Part D plans.
What’s happening: A detailed summary of the finalized provisions of the calendar year (CY) 2026 outpatient prospective payment system (OPPS) final rule is available for members.
