About Finance & Reimbursement
Vulnerable Californians who rely on the care provided by California hospitals are at risk. Driven by skyrocketing costs for labor, pharmaceuticals, regulatory mandates, and more, 53% of all hospitals statewide lose money every day to deliver patient care.
That isn’t sustainable. And California is already seeing the frightening result: rural health care services being cut to the bone, severe behavioral health care needs not being met, and more.
Q1 2026 Inpatient Quality Program Measure Trends Analysis Released
What’s happening: CHA DataSuite has issued a hospital-specific analysis of the inpatient quality program measure trends with updated Care Compare data released in first quarter 2026. What else to know: The analysis is designed to provide hospitals with a comparative review of the quality data collected by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and published over time on Care Compare. The measures updated...
CMS Approves Hospital Fee Program 9
What’s happening: Last week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services approved the most critical components of California’s 2025 Hospital Fee Program (Program 9).
CHA, Hospital Advocacy Stalls Bill Prohibiting Facility Fees
What’s happening: This week, Assemblymember Mia Bonta (D-Alameda) pulled Assembly Bill (AB) 225, her authored bill that would have prohibited hospitals from charging facility fees for certain services provided in off-campus outpatient departments, from the July 1 Senate Health Committee agenda.
DHCS to Host July 9 Webinar on Value Strategy
What's happening: The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) will host a public webinar on July 9 from 3:30 to 5 p.m. (PT) to discuss its long-term vision for advancing value in Medi-Cal.
Financial Indicator Analysis Now Available
What’s happening: CHA DataSuite has issued hospital-specific financial indicator analysis using first-quarter 2026 data from the Healthcare Cost Report Information System.
HCAI Releases New Details on CalRHT Funding Opportunities
What’s happening: The Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI) this week released details on forthcoming grants under the California Rural Health Transformation (CalRHT) program. The first opportunity is intended for “accelerator partners,” aimed at supporting collaborative models to strengthen primary and maternity care in rural communities; a grant guide is now available and applications will open...
Hospitals Must Complete Occupational Mix Survey by June 30
What’s happening: Hospitals are required to complete the new occupational mix survey for the federal fiscal year (FFY) 2028 wage index and submit it to their Medicare Administrative Contractor by June 30.
Two Hospital-Specific Quality Analyses Available from CHA DataSuite
What’s happening: CHA DataSuite has issued hospital-specific analyses of the Value-Based Purchasing (VBP) Program and the Hospital-Acquired Condition (HAC) Reduction Program for federal fiscal year (FFY) 2027.
Summaries Detail Changes to Medicaid Payments, Work Requirements
What’s happening: CHA is sharing two analyses prepared by Health Policy Alternatives (HPA) that cover Medicaid rules on directed payments and targeted supplemental payments as well as the implementation of community engagement (work requirement) provisions.
Immediate Action Needed for Prescribers: Ensure Enrollment as Medi-Cal FFS Provider
What’s happening: Claims and prior authorizations will not be processed by Medi-Cal Rx if the prescribing health care provider is not enrolled in Medi-Cal fee-for-service (FFS) with a Type 1 National Provider Identifier. Prescribers not yet enrolled should immediately submit their Medi-Cal provider enrollment application via the Provider Application and Validation for Enrollment page.