About Laws & Regulations
Navigating the vast network of health care laws and regulations is difficult. To help hospitals, CHA produces manuals and guidebooks, including the Consent Manual, a one-stop resource for all legal requirements related to patient consent for medical treatment, release of medical information, reporting requirements and more; the Model Medical Staff Bylaws and Rules, which outline the framework for working relationships among medical staff, hospital administrators and governing bodies; and the California Hospital Compliance Manual, which covers high-risk compliance issues. CHA also represents California hospitals’ interests in court on issues, including reimbursement, labor and employment, and more.
2025 Consent Law Seminar Covers Federal Health Care Guidelines, Recent State Statutes
What’s happening: On April 23 and May 19, CHA is hosting the 2025 Consent Law Seminar in Burbank and Sacramento, respectively; a livestream option is also available for the May 19 date.
What else to know: The seminar will cover new federal health care guidelines and recent state statutes, including how, together, Assembly Bill 2275 and Senate Bill 43 impact involuntary holds. Visit the event web page to register and view the full agenda.
Summary on Affordable Care Act Marketplace Integrity Proposed Rule Now Available
What’s happening: A summary of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; Marketplace Integrity and Affordability proposed rule for health insurance marketplaces — including issuers, agents, and brokers who assist marketplace enrollees — is available for CHA members.
What else to know: Comments on the proposed rule, which alters several policies, are due to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) by April 11.
CHA Comments on Proposed Changes to HIPAA Rule
What’s happening: On March 7, CHA submitted comments on proposed modifications to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) security rule.
What else to know: CHA urged the Office of Civil Rights to rescind the proposed rule and instead focus policymaking on coordinated federal efforts to prevent and deter cyberattacks in the broader health care sector.
2025 HR Conference Wraps, Planning for 2026 Begins
What’s happening: On Feb. 19-20, more than 100 human resources (HR) professionals gathered in Long Beach for the 2025 HR Conference — where experts offered sage advice, answered questions, and provided best practices on recruitment and retention, artificial intelligence (AI), and more.
What else to know: Co-hosted by CHA and the Hospital Association of Southern California, this was the first in-person HR Conference since 2019 — and planning for the 2026 HR Conference has already begun.
New CDPH All Facilities Letters Provide Additional Guidance for General Acute Care, Psychiatric Hospitals
What’s happening: On Feb. 24, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) released four new All Facilities Letters (AFLs) on laws that became effective Jan. 1. These AFLs affect general acute care and acute psychiatric hospitals, and other health care facilities.
What else to know: For more information, visit the CDPH’s web page.
Comments on Proposed EMSA Critical, Specialty Care Program Regulations Due April 3
What’s happening: The Emergency Medical Services Authority (EMSA) is proposing to update a chapter of the California Code of Regulations (CCR) that covers critical and specialty care programs, including as trauma, ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), stroke, and emergency medical services for children (EMSC) systems. Written comments on the proposed regulations are due April 3.
What else to know: The proposed revisions — to CCR Title 22, Division 9, Chapter 6 on Specialty Programs — were developed in collaboration with the California state technical advisory committees for trauma, STEMI, stroke, and EMSC. Each committee included CHA representatives.
Hospitals Must Report Community Benefit Activities to HCAI
What’s happening: On Jan. 31, the Office of Administrative Law approved the final adopted program regulations that standardize how hospitals must report their community benefit activities to the Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI). They went into effect immediately.
What else to know: The approved regulations specify the information hospitals are required to include in their community benefits plans and reports, the deadlines for submitting the required reports, and the method of submission. These regulations were also filed with the Secretary of State.
Medicare Patient Reclassification Notices Now in Effect
What’s happening: Effective Feb. 14, providers are required to issue a Medicare Change of Status Notice (MCSN) to eligible patients who were admitted as hospital inpatients, but the hospital subsequently reclassified them as outpatients who are receiving observation services.
What else to know: This requirement only applies to patients with traditional Medicare as the primary payer. The form and its instructions are available to download.
HCAI Issues Advisory Guide for Building, Remodeling Acute Psychiatric Facilities
What’s happening: The Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI) recently released an advisory guide for new construction of acute psychiatric hospitals, psychiatric nursing units provided within general acute care hospitals, and special treatment programs within skilled-nursing facilities — and remodeling or alterations to existing structures of this kind.
What else to know: The advisory guide includes new structural requirements; basic and supplemental services; and mechanical, engineering, and plumbing requirements.
2025 Behavioral Health Care Symposium
Registration opens June 3, 2025. The 2025 Behavioral Health Care Symposium returns to Sacramento! Join us at the Sawyer Kimpton in Sacramento on December 8-9 for rich conversations on behavioral health care in California from speakers you want to hear. If you thought the 2024 Symposium in Long Beach was good – just wait ’til […]