About Hospital Operations
Hospitals are grappling with staffing shortages, financial shortfalls, and extensive oversight and regulation. One in five hospitals is at risk of closure, yet hospitals remain committed to maintaining the care communities rely on and supporting the state’s health care workforce. To do this, hospitals are actively working with legislators and policymakers to find innovative and efficient ways to deliver care to all Californians.
Reminder: Submit SB 632 Opposition Letters by July 2
What’s happening: CHA issued an alert last week asking hospitals to write to the Assembly Committee on Insurance opposing Senate Bill (SB) 632 (Arreguín, D-Oakland), which would expand workers’ compensation presumptive eligibility.
CDPH Health Advisory Urges Summertime Testing for Influenza A
What’s happening: The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) released a Health Advisory on June 11 recommending that, as the 2024-25 flu season ends, health care providers continue testing for influenza throughout the summer — particularly in patients with respiratory illness, conjunctivitis, or avian influenza A (H5N1) exposure risk factors.
Hospital Equity Reporting Regulations Now in Effect, Deadline for HQI’s Reporting Assistance Extended
What’s happening: The regulations to implement Assembly Bill (AB) 1204 (2021), which requires hospitals to submit annual reports to the Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI) on measures related to health equity, are effective as of June 4.
FDA Inaction Effectively Eliminates Final Rule to Regulate Laboratory-Developed Tests
What’s happening: The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) did not appeal the March 31 final judgment in which a U.S. district court ruled that it lacks the authority to regulate laboratory-developed tests as medical devices, effectively eliminating the May 6, 2024, final rule.
CDII Proposes Amendments to DxF Technical Requirements Policy and Procedure
What’s happening: The Center for Data Insights and Innovation (CDII) has released proposed amendments to the Technical Requirements for Exchange Policy and Procedure, which govern the California Data Exchange Framework (DxF).
CHA Comments on IPPS Proposed Rule
What’s happening: CHA submitted comments in response to the federal fiscal year 2026 inpatient prospective payment system (IPPS) proposed rule, highlighting the inadequate proposed net payment update.
CDPH Shifts Influenza, RSV Surveillance to New Department
What’s happening: As of May 5, responsibility for influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) surveillance will move from the California Department of Public Health’s (CDPH’s) Immunization Branch to its Coronavirus Control Branch.
Reminder: Expanded Hospital Supplier Diversity Reports Due July 1
What’s happening: The first round of expanded Hospital Supplier Diversity Reports required under Assembly Bill (AB) 1392 (2023) are due to the Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI) on July 1.
Federal Agencies Issue New Guidance, RFIs on Price Transparency in Health Care
What’s happening: In response to President Donald Trump’s February executive order on price transparency, the departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Treasury, as well as the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, have issued new guidance and requests for information (RFIs) on machine-readable files, prescription drug pricing, and more.
Reminder: Expanded Hospital Supplier Diversity Reports Due July 1
What’s happening: The first round of expanded Hospital Supplier Diversity Reports required under Assembly Bill (AB) 1392 (2023) are due to the Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI) on July 1.