CHA News

HCAI Seeks Feedback on AB 1204 Technical Assistance by March 31

What’s happening: The Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI) recently released a survey to the hospital field to ascertain hospitals’ needs in complying with Assembly Bill (AB) 1204 (2021), which requires that they submit annual health equity data reports. The first report is due Sept. 30.  

What else to know: The survey will help HCAI identify areas where additional technical assistance will be needed. Responses to the survey are due by March 31.    

DHCS Releases Private Hospital-Directed Payment Encounter Files

What’s happening: On March 14, the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) uploaded three new hospital-directed payment encounter files, available via the Secure File Transfer Protocol site, that hospitals must download as soon as possible — they will be deleted within 45 days of the upload date.   

What else to know: DHCS has also published new calendar year 2023 encounter detail file toolkits for each Directed Payments program.  

New CHCF Poll Shows Overwhelming Support for Medi-Cal Across All Parties

What’s happening: On March 3, the California Health Care Foundation (CHCF) released a statewide poll that assesses attitudes about Medi-Cal and Covered California, and possible reductions to federal funding for both programs. 

What else to know: The poll’s executive summary is available on the CHCF website, as is information on the poll questions and methodology. CHCF also has a Defending Medi-Cal 2025 web page that is updated regularly with new data and fact sheets.   

Upcoming Webinar Discusses New CDPH Hospital Bed Tracking System

What’s happening: Using the system developed by the Hospital Association of Oregon, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has launched implementation of a statewide, real-time bed tracking system: the Hospital Bed and Emergency Medical Services System (HBEDS).   

What else to know: On April 3, CHA is hosting a members-only webinar to share CDPH’s goals for HBEDS and how it works. Registration is open for CHA members.  

Hospitals: Now Is the Time to Speak Up About the Impact of Medicaid Cuts

What’s happening: As Congress works on a federal budget for 2026 that could result in devastating cuts to Medicaid (Medi-Cal in California), it is imperative that all hospital leaders let members of Congress know directly the impact these cuts will have on the people and communities they represent. One effective method is to submit an op-ed or Letter to the Editor to your local newspaper or another relevant news outlet, as did Elaine Batchlor, MD, who serves as CEO of MLK Community Healthcare in Los Angeles and as a CHA board member.

What else to know: Dr. Batchlor’s op-ed, Medicaid cuts are a threat to health care for all, appeared in The Hill, a Washington, D.C., publication widely read by members of Congress — who, along with their staff, also regularly follow local media outlets to stay on top of key concerns for their constituents.  

CHA Symposium Convenes Hospital CEOs Amid Uncertainty

What’s happening: Leaders from California’s rural and critical access hospitals gathered on March 10-11 for the 40th CHA Rural Health Care Symposium.  

What else to know: This year’s symposium in Sacramento saw a record attendance of about 80 CEOs and other rural hospital leaders. With major challenges looming at both the state and national levels, the event provided a forum for the CEOs to discuss essential issues and strategies for the future. 

As Federal Budget Talks Progress, New Resources Can Help Tell Hospitals’ Stories

As Congress deliberates on stopgap measures to fund the government for 2025, the House of Representatives has passed a budget resolution for 2026 calling for $2 trillion in spending cuts, including $880 billion to come from programs overseen by the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which — in addition to energy, the environment, and other issues — oversees Medicaid (Medi-Cal in California).