On Aug. 31, the California Hospital Association shared comments with the Office of Health Care Affordability on its draft cost and market impact review regulations. The letter conveys a significant number of concerns and requests amendments that are largely focused on properly scoping the breadth of the office’s oversight and bringing regulations in line with the authorizing statute.
The regulations will be discussed at the Sept. 19 Health Care Affordability Board meeting. In October, we expect OHCA to formally initiate the emergency rulemaking process, after which stakeholders will have five days to provide feedback before the regulations may be finalized. Pending finalization, the regulations will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2024, for market transactions that will take place on or after April 1, 2024.