About Affordability
Health care is a basic human need, one that Californians rely on to live, grow, and prosper. Unfortunately, the cost of care has become too high for many working families. For years, California’s hospitals have made headway toward controlling costs. To ensure care for every Californian, the entire health care field must tighten its belt — insurance companies, physicians, labor unions, hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, and more. California’s hospitals stand ready to tackle this challenge through engagement with the Office of Health Care Affordability
Issue Brief: A Path Toward Reducing Spending Growth Without Sacrificing Access to Care
OHCA must engage every sector of health care in making data-driven decisions that improve care access, quality, and equity.
Key Messages: Understand Health Care Costs and OHCA’s Role in Shaping Health Care Delivery
California hospitals are among the most cost-efficient in the nation, despite factors outside their control.
CHA Will Host Jan. 8 Webinar on OHCA Cost and Market Impact Review Process
What’s happening: CHA will host a complimentary, members-only webinar on Jan. 8 at 3 p.m. (PT) to discuss how the Office of Health Care Affordability (OHCA) will conduct cost and market impact reviews (CMIRs).
What else to know: Registration is required to attend.
Major OHCA Developments to Track in 2024
What’s happening: OHCA ended 2023 with a proposed preliminary spending target of 3% annually for five years and it finalized cost and market impact review regulations.
What else to know: OHCA’s policy development and implementation is expected to accelerate in 2024, specifically related to the adoption of an initial health care spending target.
Office of Health Care Affordability Cost & Market Impact Review Process
Hear directly from CHA and the Department of Health Care Access and Information, Office of Health Care Affordability experts on how this review process will impact your hospital.
Office of Health Care Affordability (OHCA) 101: What You Need to Know and What is to Come
CHA is hosting a webinar to review the Office of Health Care Affordability’s various responsibilities and objectives under state law, provide a high-level update of implementation progress to date, and preview what is coming next from this important new regulatory agency.
CHA Seeks Greater Transparency in OHCA Data Collection Process
What’s happening: On Dec. 1, CHA submitted a comment letter on the Office of Health Care Affordability’s (OHCA) total health care expenditure draft regulations.
What else to know: These regulations will determine how health spending is attributed to providers and who will be accountable under the statewide spending target.
OHCA Releases Rules on Cost and Market Impact Review Process
What’s happening: On Nov. 28, the Office of Health Care Affordability (OHCA) released a revised version of the cost and market impact review regulations, alongside an accompanying notice.
What else to know: The final regulations are expected to be effective on Jan. 1, 2024, for transactions intended to be completed on or after April 1, 2024. Stakeholders will have five days to comment on the regulations once officially filed.
Advocacy Work Ramping Up on Office of Health Care Affordability
Over the past year, the state’s newly formed Office of Health Care Affordability has been convening and debating ways to meet the office’s legislated mission to reduce health care spending growth and ensure the delivery of high-quality, equitable care.
Hospital Finance Week: Spotlight: California’s New Office of Health Care Affordability
This session will review the Office of Health Care Affordability (OHCA) authorizing statute and the specific requirements of the Office, including: Hear what’s changing and how to prepare. Insights from early experiences with the Office will be shared.