What’s Happening: New graduate medical education (GME) residency slots have been allotted to teaching hospitals serving geographic areas and underserved populations.
What Else to Know: Applications for the third round of residency positions will open in January and close March 31.
What’s Happening: A members-only summary from Health Policy Alternatives, Inc. of the proposed policy changes for Medicare Advantage (MA) plans is available.
What Else to Know: The proposed policies affect MA (Part C), Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit (Part D), Medicare cost plans, and Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly.
What’s happening: A new update on doula regulations from the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) removes the need for physician approval to allow doulas to be present during deliveries in hospitals.
What else to know: DHCS Medical Director, Karen Mark, MD, has authorized doula services for any Medi-Cal member who is pregnant or was pregnant within the past year and wishes to receive services from a doula while pregnant or within one year of pregnancy.
What’s happening: CHA has created a signage template for you to consider posting alongside required seismic signage resulting from the passage of Assembly Bill (AB) 1882.
What else to know: The deadline for compliance with AB 1882 posting requirements is Jan. 1, 2024. This template offers an opportunity for hospitals to emphasize their commitment to — and progress on — employee, patient, and visitor safety.
What’s Happening: Draft policies for the California Data Exchange Framework (DxF) have been released by the California Health and Human Services Agency’s Center for Data Insights and Innovation (CDII) and are open for public comment.
What Else to Know: Comments are due to CDII by Dec. 18 for the participant directory policy and by Dec. 21 for the fees policy.
What’s Happening: Hospitals are preparing for patient surges due to the increase of respiratory infections this winter and may need to request flexibility from licensing regulations.
What Else to Know: There are important things for hospitals to keep in mind when sending program flexibility applications to the California Department of Public Health (CDPH).
What’s Happening: CHA submitted comments to the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) on proposed regulation of laboratory developed tests (LDTs).
What Else to Know: The proposed rule would have significant unintended consequences for the delivery of medical laboratory services and would raise costs to the overall health care system.
What’s Happening: The U.S. House of Representatives is set to vote on the Lower Costs, More Transparency Act (H.R. 5378), which includes harmful Medicare site-neutral payment cuts as soon as Dec. 11.
What Else to Know: CHA asks members to call or email your U.S. representative and urge them to vote no.
What’s happening: On Dec. 1, CHA submitted a comment letter on the Office of Health Care Affordability’s (OHCA) total health care expenditure draft regulations.
What else to know: These regulations will determine how health spending is attributed to providers and who will be accountable under the statewide spending target.
What’s happening: On Nov. 28, the Office of Health Care Affordability (OHCA) released a revised version of the cost and market impact review regulations, alongside an accompanying notice.
What else to know: The final regulations are expected to be effective on Jan. 1, 2024, for transactions intended to be completed on or after April 1, 2024. Stakeholders will have five days to comment on the regulations once officially filed.