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 HR Conference Offers Continuing Education Credits
What’s happening: In partnership with the Hospital Association of Southern California, CHA will host the two-day 2025 HR Conference in Long Beach, taking place Feb. 19 from noon to 5 p.m. and Feb. 20 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
What else to know: The conference will cover topics relevant to human resource (HR) professionals, and professional continuing education (CE) credits are available to registrants who complete certain requirements. Registration is open for CHA members.
CHA Comments on Medicare Advantage Proposals for 2026
What’s happening: CHA submitted comments in response to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) proposed policy and technical changes to Medicare Advantage (MA) and Part D programs for contract year 2026.
What else to know: Finalization of the proposed rule is expected in April — in time for MA plans to bid to CMS and offer MA products for plan year 2026. The rule, once finalized, will take effect Jan. 1, 2026.
Health Facilities Must Work With College Nursing Programs on Clinical Placements
What’s happening: Effective Jan. 1, Assembly Bill (AB) 1577 (2024) added Section 12775 to the Health and Safety Code, requiring health facilities and clinics to meet with a community college or California State University that has an approved school of nursing upon the college’s request and work in good faith to meet the nursing program’s clinical placement needs.
What else to know: Beginning in 2026, if a health facility or clinic lacks the capability or capacity to meet the college’s needs, the Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI) will require written justification within 30 days of the meeting, subject to a $1,000 fine for failure to provide the justification.
2025 Consent Law Seminar
April 23, 2025 | BurbankMay 19, 2025 | Sacramento & Livestream Mitigating risk means more than staying current with shifting consent laws. Privacy breaches, adverse event reports, and complex discharges pose significant litigation threats. Unexpected surveyors can present unique challenges. Plus, laws have changed and what you don’t know can hurt you. CHA’s Consent Law […]
HHS Proposes Updates to HIPAA Security Rule
What’s happening: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) proposed revisions to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Security Rule aim to strengthen cybersecurity protections for electronic protected health information (ePHI).
What else to know: Comments on the proposed rule are due by March 7.
New Interoperability Final Rule Focuses on Information Sharing
What’s happening: The Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy (ASTP) and Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology issued the second part of a final rule to advance interoperability and improve information sharing among patients, providers, payers, and public health authorities.
What else to know: This final rule focuses on information blocking exceptions, including reproductive health data policies.
Update on 2022 Outpatient PPS and Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rules Participant Information
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued its calendar year (CY) 2022 outpatient prospective payment system (OPPS) proposed rule on July 19. CMS estimates that Medicare expenditures under OPPS will increase by $1.35 billion based on changes in the proposed rule. CMS also issued its calendar year (CY) 2022 physician fee schedule (PFS) proposed rule on July 13. CHA is hosting a members-only webinar to discuss updates to these proposed rules […]
CHA Encourages Members to Participate in the Vitality Index Payer Scorecard
What’s happening: CHA is endorsing member participation in the Vitality Index Payer Scorecard, which will provide critical information to support CHA’s advocacy to hold insurers accountable for timely and accurate reimbursement.
What else to know: The CHA Board of Trustees has endorsed this tool, which will automatically draw de-identified claims and remittance information from hospitals without requiring additional reporting or surveys.
2024 Consent Manual
Overview The Consent Manual is your one-stop resource for all legal requirements related to patient consent for medical treatment, release of medical information, reporting requirements and more. It details exactly what the law requires and what you need to do to comply. (50th edition, 2024) Contents Chapters: Patients’ Rights and Interpreter Services Basic Principles of Consent Who […]