CHA News

New Interoperability Final Rule Focuses on Information Sharing

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What’s happening: The Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy (ASTP) and Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology issued the second part of a final rule to advance interoperability and improve information sharing among patients, providers, payers, and public health authorities.   

What else to know: This final rule focuses on information blocking exceptions, including reproductive health data policies. 

HCAI Updates Policy on Alternate Power Requirements for Skilled-Nursing Facilities

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What’s happening: The Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI) has issued updated information on requirements for alternate sources of power in skilled-nursing facilities (SNFs).    

What else to know: The revised Policy Intent Notice provides guidance for the implementation of alternate sources of power to maintain safe temperatures, availability of lifesaving equipment, and oxygen-generating devices for SNF buildings as required by state law.   

CMS Makes Additional Updates to Medicare Advantage Provider Complaint Submission Form

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What’s happening: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has provided additional updates to the Medicare Advantage Provider Complaint Submission form as it continues to refine the process,.   

What else to know: As previously reported,  CMS has developed a process that allows providers to submit questions and complaints related to Medicare Advantage (MA) plan appeals or claims payment issues.  

OHCA Board Could Approve Creation of Statewide Hospital Sector in Early 2025

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What’s happening: The Office of Health Care Affordability (OHCA) board met earlier this week to discuss options for defining hospitals as a sector for spending target purposes, as well as receive an update on progress toward adopting a behavioral health investment benchmark. 

What else to know: CHA wrote to the board and provided public comment, pressing that the adoption of a hospital sector definition is premature and misguided, while stating the importance of including the full continuum of clinically appropriate services in OHCA’s behavioral health investment benchmark. 

New Disaster Preparedness Site Streamlines Crisis Response Resources

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What’s happening: CHA has incorporated its disaster preparedness website, www.calhospitalprepare.org, into the general CHA website, giving members one-stop access to all association info. 

What else to know: The new web page retains the critical disaster recovery and response information formerly housed on the previous site, combining that essential content with CHA’s broader resources.  

CHA Summary Covers Proposed Changes to Medicare Advantage Part D Plans

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What’s happening: CHA has issued a members-only summary of the proposed changes to Medicare Advantage (MA) and Part D programs for contract year 2026.  

What else to know: The summary, prepared by Health Policy Alternatives, Inc., also includes proposals to codify existing sub-regulatory guidance in the MA Part C and Part D programs.  

CHA Issues Summary of New Payment Model on Kidney Transplant Access

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What’s happening: A summary of the finalized Increasing Organ Transplant Access Model is available for CHA members.  

What else to know: The model will test whether performance-based incentive payments paid to or owed by participating kidney transplant hospitals increase access to kidney transplants for patients with end-stage renal disease.  

CHA DataSuite Analysis Provides Comparative Review of CMS ‘Care Compare’ Quality Data for Third Quarter 2024

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What’s happening: CHA DataSuite has issued a hospital-specific analysis on quality program measure trends for the third quarter of 2024.  

What else to know: The analysis provides hospitals a comparative review of the quality data collected over time by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and published on Care Compare.   

A Powerful Presence in 2024… and Beyond

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As 2024 comes to a close, it’s a good time to pause to reflect on the work we’ve done together to help improve the lives of all Californians.  

DHCS Releases Updated List of Medi-Cal Managed Care Plan Liaisons for Long-Term Care Providers

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What’s happening: The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) requires Medi-Cal managed care plans (MCPs) to identify a liaison to serve as a single point of contact for long-term care providers. These liaisons are listed in an updated DHCS document. 

What else to know: The long-term services and supports (LTSS) liaison provides support to LTC providers, including skilled-nursing facilities (SNFs) with addressing claims and payment inquiries and care transitions to support Medi-Cal members’ needs.