CHA News

DHCS Issues Memo to Medi-Cal Managed Care Health Plans on Change Healthcare Cyberattack

What’s happening: On March 13, the Department of Health Care Services issued a memo to its contracted Medi-Cal managed care plans (MCPs) related to flexibilities to ensure delivery system stability following the Change Healthcare cyberattack.  

What else to know: The memo reminds MCPs of their claims payment contractual responsibilities, including oversight of their delegated entities, and strongly encourages MCPs to take steps to support the provider community.  

CMS Announces New Primary Care Payment Model

What’s happening: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the Accountable Care Organization (ACO) Primary Care (PC) Flex Model, a new voluntary payment model that will test how prospective payments and increased funding for primary care in ACOs impact health outcomes, quality, and costs of care.  

What else to know: CMS will launch the model on Jan. 1, 2025. 

CHA DataSuite Releases Four Analyses

What’s happening: CHA DataSuite issued hospital-specific analyses on the Value-Based Purchasing (VBP) Program, the Hospital-Acquired Condition (HAC) Reduction Program, quality program measure trends, and a quality programs overview report. 

What else to know: Analyses are updated with the latest Care Compare data release for fourth quarter 2023. See below for the members-only analysis descriptions.  

CHA Summary: Proposed Changes for Oversight of Accrediting Organizations

What’s happening: CHA is sharing its summary of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) proposed rule intended to strengthen oversight of accrediting organizations (AOs) such as The Joint Commission and Det Norske Veritas.  

What else to know: While the proposed policies are applicable to AOs, several proposed changes will affect hospitals and health systems that rely on AO accreditation.  

CHA’s Rural Health Care Symposium Brings Hospital Leaders Together on Critical Issues

What’s happening: Timely educational offerings and productive discussions at CHA’s Rural Health Care Symposium on March 4-5 will help shape future organizational strategies for rural and critical access hospitals.  

What else to know: With record attendance, the 71 members representing 35 rural and critical access hospitals received updates on CHA’s state and federal legislative efforts, rural seismic strategies, and Medi-Cal and state finances.