What’s happening: This week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) opened the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) application process. States must submit their applications for a share of the program’s $50 billion by Nov. 5. CMS will announce awardees by Dec. 31.
What’s happening: Member hospitals selected for mandatory participation in the Transforming Episode Accountability Model (TEAM) should have received a hospital-specific CHA DataSuite analysis, completed in partnership with DataGen, on Sept. 10.
What’s happening: CHA DataSuite has released hospital-specific impact analyses of the federal fiscal year (FFY) 2026 Medicare skilled-nursing facility (SNF), inpatient rehabilitation facility (IRF), and long-term care hospital (LTCH) prospective payment systems (PPS), showing providers how the final rule will impact FFY 2026 Medicare inpatient fee-for-service payments.
What’s happening: Hospitals and rural health partners should make every effort to complete the Department of Health Care Access and Information’s (HCAI’s) survey on the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) — a $50 billion fund enacted by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act — before tomorrow’s deadline.
What’s happening: To increase data confidence and reliability, more hospitals must register for the Emergency Medical Services Authority’s (EMSA’s) “APOT Audit Tool” and begin conducting monthly audits. To be compliant with Assembly Bill (AB) 40 requirements, hospitals must also submit their APOT reduction protocols to EMSA.
What’s happening: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced it will increase enforcement efforts against providers and other entities that engage in information blocking, as authorized under the 21st Century Cures Act.
What’s happening: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued preliminary guidance regarding the implementation of certain state-directed payment (SDP) provisions of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA).
What’s happening: CHA has filed an amicus (“friend of the court”) brief with 36 other state and regional hospital associations supporting the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) against pharmaceutical manufacturers’ appeal of rulings related to 340B Drug Pricing Program rebate models.
What’s happening: On Sept. 9, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) approved California’s Children’s Hospital Supplemental Payment Program for calendar year (CY) 2025, which will provide $230 million in total funding to support eligible network children’s hospitals.
Editor's note: On Sept. 12, CHA submitted the letter referenced below - read the final comments.
What’s happening: Members are encouraged to use CHA’s new draft comments on the calendar year (CY) 2026 physician fee schedule proposed rule as a template for their own comments.