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.
Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Health Gets Update on DHLP, Rural Health Transformation Program
What’s happening: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Health met this week to receive an update from the Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI) on the Distressed Hospital Loan Program (DHLP), as well as implementation of the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP).
Hospital Fee Program 9 Payment Policies Likely to Be Finalized in Early May
What’s happening: The California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) has indicated that payment policies are likely to be finalized in early May for the revised Hospital Fee Program tax model for calendar year 2025 (Program 9), which was submitted to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) last month. Soon after finalization, a model will be...
CHA’s Two Sponsored Bills Make It Out of Assembly Health Committee
What’s happening: Despite the concerns of Chair Mia Bonta, both CHA-sponsored bills —Assembly Bill (AB) 1923 (Soria, D-Merced) and AB 2353 (Pacheco, D-Downey) — moved out of the Assembly Health Committee on Tuesday. AB 1923 would expand the Distressed Hospital Loan Program (DHLP) and AB 2353 would allow for additional cost analysis of proposed legislation and regulations...
CHA Warns of Growing Financial Strain on Hospitals at Budget Subcommittee Hearing
What’s happening: On April 6, the Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Health held a hearing to continue its overview of the state’s budget condition and impacts of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA).
CHA Alert: Urge Lawmakers to Support Funding for Distressed Hospital Loan Program
What’s happening: Yesterday, CHA issued an alert asking members to write to the Senate and Assembly budget committee chairs and support the request for a one-time appropriation of $300 million for the Distressed Hospital Loan Program, as well as statutory changes to advance the program.
DHCS Issues RFI to Shape Comprehensive Hospital Value Strategy
What’s happening: The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) has issued a request for information that seeks to collect input from stakeholders and shape DHCS’ comprehensive “Hospital Value Strategy.” The RFI deadline is April 17.
State Submits Hospital Fee Program 10 to CMS
What’s happening: Last week, the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) submitted its Hospital Fee Program tax model for calendar year 2026 (Program 10) to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
State to Issue DSH April Payments Starting Next Week
What’s happening: The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) will issue disproportionate share hospital (DSH) April payments for the period of February-March 2026.
DHCS Releases Private Hospital-Directed Payment Encounter Files
What’s happening: On March 27, the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) uploaded three new hospital data sets that hospitals must download before the files are deleted on May 11.
House Letter Urges Appropriators to Block Funding for 340B Rebate Model
What’s happening: U.S. Rep. Doris Matsui led a bipartisan letter requesting that the fiscal year 2027 appropriations bill include language barring the use of funds for implementation of any 340B Rebate Model, including the previously proposed pilot program.