What’s happening: The California Health Care Foundation’s Future of Medi-Cal Commission Advisory Group met last week, with discussion focused on implementing reforms well, strengthening accountability, simplifying Medi-Cal while protecting core benefits, and using data and technology to improve the member experience.
There is positive movement on new state regulations and standards to strengthen oversight of commercial insurance companies and compel them to provide the health care services people need. This comes after years of continuous CHA advocacy with the Department of Managed Health Care, calling attention to the practices of many profit-minded insurance companies that were neglecting the needs of Californians.
What’s happening: After the Office of Health Care Affordability (OHCA) board voted yesterday to approve astronomical financial penalties against hospitals it deems non-compliant with its caps on spending growth, CHA immediately issued a media statement reiterating hospitals’ strident opposition and highlighting new research showing the unintended consequences of similar efforts in other states.
What’s happening: This week, Sen. Akilah Weber Pierson (D-San Diego) submitted to the Office of Health Care Affordability (OHCA) a letter, cosigned by 25 other lawmakers, that asks pointed questions about OHCA’s work to date – in particular, how its efforts to control affordability will preserve access to care.
What’s happening: The Department of Health Care Services has updated the disproportionate share hospital (DSH) replacement payment spreadsheets and timelines.
What’s happening: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued updated guidance — effective Sept. 20 — on its procedures for evaluating critical access hospital (CAH) compliance with rural and distance requirements.
What’s happening: CHA has submitted comments to the Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC) on a draft All Plan Letter with proposed guidance aimed at increasing oversight and transparency of health plan downcoding practices.
What’s happening: The Office of Health Care Affordability (OHCA) board meets next week, with votes agendized on the scope, range, and justification factors for both spending target penalties and procedural penalties. Hospitals must push back on the unprecedented penalties OHCA has proposed; see CHA's alert for guidance and resources.
What’s happening: Applications for the California Rural Health Transformation (CalRHT) Program’s Electronic Health Record (EHR) Modernization grant will close on Aug. 21 at 3 p.m. (PT).
What’s happening: CHA DataSuite has issued a hospital-specific analysis of the Medicare hospital federal fiscal year (FFY) 2028 wage index and occupational mix data.
