About Health Equity
Disparate health outcomes for Californians are often the result of historic and systemic inequalities that persist today. Unequal access to health care and health resources, as well as unequal and damaging environmental conditions due to race, socioeconomic status, and other factors is untenable in a just and healthy society. That’s why California’s hospitals are committed to ensuring every Californian receives equitable, high-quality care through programs that address the social determinants of health — things like housing instability, access to healthy foods, and community violence. But hospitals alone cannot eliminate health disparities. It will take systemic reform, paired with broad partnerships across all segments of California’s communities, to improve the status quo.
HHS Issues Proposed Rule on Nondiscrimination for Patients with Disabilities
The Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office for Civil Rights released a proposed rule updating and clarifying requirements that prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability in programs receiving financial assistance from the department, including health care.
CHA-Supported Health Equity Bills Move onto Floor for Full Senate Vote
Last week, both of the CHA-supported health equity bills on the Senate Appropriations suspense file — Assembly Bill (AB) 1057 and AB 1202 — moved off of the suspense file and onto the floor for a full Senate vote.
CMS Announces Voluntary State Total Cost of Care Model
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Innovation Center announced a new voluntary, state total cost of care model: the States Advancing All-Payer Health Equity Approaches and Development (AHEAD) model. CMS will select up to eight states to participate in the model, which is intended to curb health care cost growth, improve population health, and advance health equity, and is built on best practices from the Maryland Total Cost of Care model, the Pennsylvania Rural Health Model, and the Vermont All-Payer ACO Model.
CMS Announces Changes to ACO REACH Model for Performance Year 2024
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced changes to its accountable care organization (ACO) Realizing Equity, Access, and Community Health (REACH) Model starting in performance year 2024.
Changes, Challenges, and Champions
A little more than a year ago, the attention of the nation’s health care workers was fixed on Tennessee, where nurse RaDonda Vaught was on trial for the death of one of her patients.
Advancing LGBTQ+ Health Equity with the Healthcare Equality Index
Join this webinar to learn more about the survey and how the information obtained can be used to advance efforts to provide equitable care to all your patients. You will also hear from two hospital members discussing their experiences with the survey and how they have implemented changes to better serve their LGBTQ+ community and employees.
CHA Issues Summaries of IPPS, LTCH PPS Proposed Rules
CHA has issued comprehensive summaries of the federal fiscal year (FFY) 2024 inpatient prospective payment system (IPPS) and long-term care hospital (LTCH) PPS proposed rules. Comments on both proposed rules are due to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services by 2 p.m. (PT) on June 9 and can be submitted online.
CHA Issues Summary of Finalized Policies for 2024 Medicare Advantage and Part D Programs
CHA has issued a members-only summary, prepared by Health Policy Alternatives, Inc., of the finalized changes to Medicare Advantage (MA) and Part D programs for contract year 2024.
CMS Issues Proposed Rules on Medicaid Access and Payment Rates
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued two proposed rules related to Medicaid programs. The proposed rules are designed to improve access to care, quality, and health outcomes, and better promote health equity for Medicaid beneficiaries across fee-for-service and managed care delivery systems. Comments on both proposed rules are due to CMS by 2 p.m. (PT) on July 3.
Medical Student Inspires Others While Pursuing Her Dream
She once thought Black people couldn’t be doctors. Now Chelsea Nash is set on becoming one while helping people of color do the same.