About Continuum of Care
Post-acute care — often provided at inpatient rehabilitation facilities, long-term care hospitals, skilled-nursing facilities, and at patients’ homes — is vital to the health care delivery system. These providers deliver essential medical and rehabilitative services following hospital care. Hospital case managers help support, and connect patients, families, and caregivers through communication and coordination with post-acute care providers and home and community-based services. This includes the development of a discharge or transition plan that addresses the patient’s goals, needs and treatment preferences, and prepares patients and caregivers for post-discharge care.
Summaries Available for CY 2026 Home Health, End-Stage Renal Disease Payment Final Rules
What’s happening: Summaries of the calendar year (CY) 2026 home health prospective payment system (PPS) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) PPS final rules are available for CHA members.
CMS Updates Hospital Surveyor Guidance to Address Discharge Planning, Notification Requirements, and More
What’s happening: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has revised Appendix A of the State Operations Manual to include new interpretive guidelines and survey processes.
IRF Review Choice Demonstration to begin in CA in 2026
What is happening: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced that it will be expanding the Review Choice Demonstration (RCD) for Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility (IRF) Services to California, beginning May 1, 2026.
DHCS Requests Comments on Plan Policies for SNF, Subacute Authorization and Payment by Friday
What is happening: The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) is requesting feedback by Dec. 5 on draft all plan letters addressing updated policies for Medi-Cal managed care plan (MCP) coverage of skilled-nursing, subacute care , and intermediate care facility services.
CMS Repeals Minimum Staffing Standards for Skilled-Nursing Facilities
What’s happening: On Dec. 2, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services issued an interim final rule that repeals minimum staffing standards for long-term care facilities, which were finalized in 2024.
CMS to Decrease Home Health Payments 1.3% in 2026
What’s happening: On Nov. 28, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued the calendar year (CY) 2026 home health prospective payment system final rule.
Bill Reaffirming Immigration Protections Now in Effect, CHA Issues Compliance Primer
What’s happening: A bill passed earlier this year reaffirms existing protections related to immigration enforcement action at California hospitals. CHA has released a hospital compliance primer with more details, including steps hospitals should take to demonstrate their compliance with the new law.
CHA Releases Guide to Improve Homelessness Reporting Ahead of Potential Reimbursement Changes
What’s happening: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) now considers homelessness a “complication or comorbidity,” acknowledging the increased care resources this population requires. This acknowledgement signals potential Medicare reimbursement changes in the future.
CHA Issues Additional Comments on Regulations Limiting LVN-Provided Respiratory Care
What’s happening: CHA has submitted additional comments to the Respiratory Care Board of California (RCB) regarding new regulations that restrict the tasks licensed vocational nurses (LVNs) may perform, therefore limiting hospitals’ and other care providers’ ability to meet their patients’ needs.
Medi-Cal Treatment Authorization Request System to Be Updated
What’s happening: From Nov. 15- 18, the Medi-Cal Treatment Authorization Request (TAR) system will be unavailable as it is migrated to a new platform.