What’s happening: On Nov. 21, the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) uploaded three new hospital-directed payment encounter files, available via the Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP) site. The SFTP site is not intended for long-term storage, so files will be deleted Jan. 5, 2026.
What’s happening: Last week, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) released an All Facilities Letter (AFL) reminding providers of upcoming patient safety plan requirements, passed as part of Assembly Bill (AB) 3161 in 2024.
What’s happening: On Nov. 28, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued the calendar year (CY) 2026 home health prospective payment system final rule.
What’s happening: Covered California, Cal Healthcare Compare, and CalPERS — with support from state agencies, health plans, hospitals, and improvement organizations — have joined forces in a new collaborative that aims to create a statewide framework for quality alignment and improvement in hospitals across California.
What’s happening: The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) Capitated Rates Development Division is asking providers to confirm their contact info as part of its ongoing efforts to maintain accurate and up-to-date contact information.
What’s happening: On Dec. 3 from 2:30- 4 p.m. (PT), a panel of CHA experts will cover key legislation from the 2025 session, highlight crucial deadlines, and answer members’ questions.
What’s happening: The Office of Health Care Affordability’s (OHCA) board convened on Nov. 19 to discuss several items, most notably its newly released Investigative Study of Hospital Market Competition in Monterey County. CHA voiced deep concerns with the one-sided study and urged the office to course-correct to restore confidence that regulated entities will be treated fairly.
Year after year, on the last Thursday of November, the country takes a breath.
What’s happening: The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) has outlined its schedule for issuing “catch-up” payments to hospitals in December, reflecting congressional action that delayed pending cuts to disproportionate share hospitals (DSHs).
What’s happening: On Nov. 14, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued preliminary guidance on new federal requirements for Medicaid health care-related taxes (i.e., provider taxes) included in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA).
