The National Quality Forum (NQF) has released its list of 19 measures under consideration for federal public reporting and payment programs, including the hospital inpatient and inpatient psychiatric facility quality reporting programs, the Medicare and Medicaid promoting interoperability program, and the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System. NQF will accept comments through 3 p.m. (PT) on Nov. 25.

The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) has released a draft of its Comprehensive Quality Strategy (CQS) report, addressing the department’s quality improvement infrastructure and highlighting its coordinated delivery system reform efforts. Comments are due by Dec.23.

Earlier this week, the Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee conducted an oversight hearing to address recent public safety power shutoff (PSPS) events, during which utilities intentionally shut off power in certain areas at heightened risk of weather-related wildfires.

On Dec. 3, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will hold a call to discuss the finalized policies on price transparency requirements. The call is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. – noon (PT) and will include a Q&A session.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has released the following information:

Submitting CY 2019 eCQM Data Using CMS’ Next Generation Hospital Quality Reporting System Webinar Slides
Inpatient Psychiatric Facility-Specific Reports for Fiscal Year 2020 IPFQR Program Claims-Based Measures Available for Download
January 2020 Hospital Compare Preview Data Available
Medicare Shared Savings Program: Application Deadlines for January 1, 2021, Start Date

The newly released fourth installment of a one-on-one conversation between Tom Insel, MD, behavioral health adviser to Gov. Gavin Newsom, and CHA’s President & CEO Carmela Coyle features a discussion of hospitals’ role in caring for people with behavioral health conditions.

Anne McLeod, CHA’s senior vice president, health policy & innovation, will leave the association in December ahead of joining the Private Essential Access Community Hospitals (PEACH) organization on Jan. 6, 2020, as its President and CEO.

Thursday is National Rural Health Day, showcasing rural health care providers, their challenges and triumphs, and recognizing the unique health care needs of rural communities.