CHA News

2025 HR Conference Wraps, Planning for 2026 Begins

What’s happening: On Feb. 19-20, more than 100 human resources (HR) professionals gathered in Long Beach for the 2025 HR Conference — where experts offered sage advice, answered questions, and provided best practices on recruitment and retention, artificial intelligence (AI), and more.  

What else to know: Co-hosted by CHA and the Hospital Association of Southern California, this was the first in-person HR Conference since 2019 — and planning for the 2026 HR Conference has already begun.

CMS Publishes Progress Report on Review Choice Demonstration for Inpatient Rehabilitation Services, Shares ‘Helpful Hints’

What’s happening: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has posted to its website a report on the ongoing Review Choice Demonstration for Inpatient Rehabilitation Services (IRF RCD) — a program currently in Alabama and Pennsylvania that will expand to California in the future, though a specific time frame has not yet been established.  

What else to know: Based on IRF RCD results to date, CMS has released a Helpful Hints document that could assist California providers, as it includes reasons a claim might not be affirmed, as well as best practices that may help avoid non-affirmations.  

CDPH Issues Guidance on Skilled-Nursing Facility Reporting for Resident Payer Source

What’s happening: The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has issued All Facilities Letter (AFL) 25-10, which implements new requirements for skilled-nursing facilities (SNFs) and strengthens the prohibition against facility discrimination based on a resident’s payment source, as enacted in Senate Bill 1354.  What else to know: Effective Jan. 1, Medi-Cal participating SNFs must make publicly […]

DHCS Shares Flexibilities for Hospitals in Light of Los Angeles Fires

What’s happening: On Feb. 4, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an executive order that removed certain barriers to expedite relief for survivors of the Los Angeles fires. The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) has also extended audit-related administrative flexibilities due to the fire and has shared with CHA highlights of these flexibilities that may affect hospitals. 

What else to know: The executive order extends deadlines for health care providers to submit requests to DHCS for scope of service changes. Additional details about these and the DHCS audit-related administrative flexibilities are outlined in this document. 

OHCA Faces Tough Questions from Lawmakers, Hospitals

What’s happening: In a March 3 hearing, members of the Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Health pressed Office of Health Care Affordability (OHCA) leadership to answer questions on the impact its statewide and hospital-sector targets will have on patient care.  

What else to know: During the hearing’s public comment portion, nearly 20 hospitals and health care organizations voiced their concerns with OHCA’s failure to account for the cost drivers and expenses that hospitals face and shared how these targets will negatively affect patient care. 

Court Agrees with Key CHA Arguments in Anthem Lawsuit But Will Not Hear Rest of Case

What’s happening: A Los Angeles Superior Court Judge has ruled on CHA’s lawsuit against Anthem Blue Cross, finding that it is the responsibility of health plans to arrange for and transition to post-acute care services for their members. 

What else to know: Despite finding in favor of CHA on key points, the judge nonetheless decided to “abstain” from further involvement in the case. 

Comments on Proposed EMSA Critical, Specialty Care Program Regulations Due April 3

What’s happening: The Emergency Medical Services Authority (EMSA) is proposing to update a chapter of the California Code of Regulations (CCR) that covers critical and specialty care programs, including as trauma, ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), stroke, and emergency medical services for children (EMSC) systems. Written comments on the proposed regulations are due April 3. 

What else to know: The proposed revisions — to CCR Title 22, Division 9, Chapter 6 on Specialty Programs — were developed in collaboration with the California state technical advisory committees for trauma, STEMI, stroke, and EMSC. Each committee included CHA representatives.  

Authors
  • Erika Frank
    Vice President, Legal Counsel
  • Patricia Blaisdell, FACHE
    Vice President, Policy