Governor’s Signature Provides Time, Predictability for Hospitals to Increase Wages
Last Friday, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law SB 525, which sets minimum wages for health care workers across the state.
CHA News
It’s Time to Register for the Behavioral Health Care Symposium
What do a judge, a mayor, and several attorneys (not to mention state and county behavioral health representatives) have in common? They’re all part of the agenda at CHA’s Behavioral Health Care Symposium on Dec. 12-13.
Growing Discharge Delays Leading to Hospital Overcrowding, Other Problems
California hospital patients are experiencing frequent, lengthy, and costly delays in care transitions. That’s the finding of a new CHA member survey investigating the extent and impact of discharge delays in three key hospital settings: emergency departments (EDs), general acute care, and inpatient psychiatric care. While such challenges are long-standing, the volume of the […]
CMS Announces CY 2024 Deductible for Medicare Programs
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has announced the calendar year (CY) 2024 deductibles for the Medicare Part A and Part B programs.
Minimum Wage Advocacy Stretches into Final Hours of Signing Deadline
The gubernatorial signing deadline for bills passed in California’s 2023 legislative session is a little more than 48 hours away. One piece of legislation still awaiting action is SB 525, a bill that would raise the minimum wage for health care workers and is critical for hospitals to create a stable and predictable path for these increases.
Demographic Shifts May Turn Health Care in California “Upside Down”
CHA President & CEO Carmela Coyle is one of several leaders in different fields sharing their views of the future in an ongoing series called “California 2030” airing on CBS television stations in Sacramento and around California. In these short segments, she discusses the impact of demographic shifts on the health care field, how hospitals […]
California Dispensers Must Use New Reporting Format Starting Aug. 1
Starting Aug. 1, 2024, all California dispensers of controlled substances will be required to report dispensations to the controlled substance utilization review and evaluation system (CURES) using version 4.2B of the American Society of Automation in Pharmacy (ASAP) format. On and after this date, data submitted using the current CURES ASAP version 4.1 format will no longer be accepted.
Drug Enforcement Administration Extends Telemedicine Rules Through End of 2024
The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has extended its COVID-19 pandemic rules for prescribing controlled substances via telemedicine through Dec. 31, 2024. The regulation is effective Nov. 11.
Revised OHCA Regulations on Cost and Market Impact Review Process Are a Step in the Right Direction
Earlier this week, the Office of Health Care Affordability released a revised draft regulation on the cost and market impact review process. The revised draft regulations include several notable improvements compared to the prior version, most notably exempting from review transactions in the usual and regular course of business and establishing an expedited review process for transactions that include a financially distressed health care entity.
Tri-Agencies Reopen Dispute Resolution Process for Some Claims and Issue Guidance on QPA Calculation
The departments of Health and Human Services, Labor, and Treasury (the Tri-Agencies) reopened the independent dispute resolution (IDR) process for new single payment disputes, including claims where services are bundled into one payment amount on Oct. 6, 2023. Accompanying guidance indicates that the IDR process for batched and air ambulance disputes remains suspended while the Tri-Agencies update their guidance and systems to reflect recent court orders that stem from recent rulings in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas.