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.
Correction Notices Issued for Medicare Payment Final Rules
What’s happening: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services issued correction notices to the federal fiscal year (FFY) 2025 Medicare payment final rules.
What else to know: The changes are minor, and the inpatient prospective payment system (IPPS) final rule changes are not reflective of the low-wage index interim final rule.
Summary: Finalized Mental Health Parity Regulations
What’s happening: CHA has issued a members-only summary of the Mental Health Parity Final Rule that aims to improve access to mental health services by requiring health plans to make changes when inadequate access is provided.
What else to know: The regulations are effective Nov. 22.
CMS Webinar Covers Requirements for Hospital Price Transparency Machine-Readable File
What’s happening: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will hold a webinar to bring hospitals up to speed on the price transparency machine-readable file (MRF) requirements.
What else to know: The webinar takes place on Oct. 21 from 10-11:30 a.m. (PT).
Summary of FFY 2025 IPPS Final Rule Includes Details on New Accountability Model
What’s happening: CHA has issued a detailed summary of the federal fiscal year (FFY) 2025 inpatient prospective payment system final rule.
What else to know: The summary includes information on the new Transforming Episode Accountability Model (TEAM) that will be mandatory for more than 130 California hospitals across 10 geographic areas.
OSHPD to Host Webinar on Hospital Construction Review Process
What’s happening: The Department of Health Care Access and Information’s (HCAI) Office of Statewide Hospital Planning and Development (OSHPD) is hosting a webinar to share updates about its review process for hospital construction projects.
What else to know: The webinar is scheduled for Sept. 25 at 1 p.m. (PT) and is free. Registration is open.
Mental Health Parity Rules Finalized
What’s happening: The departments of the Treasury, Labor, and Health and Human Services have finalized rules to improve access to mental health services by requiring health plans to make changes when inadequate access is provided.
What else to know: The final rule reinforces the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 (MHPAEA), which requires health plans to ensure that access to mental health or substance use disorder care is not more restrictive than access to medical and surgical benefits.
CHA Issues Comments on CY 2025 OPPS Proposed Rule
What’s happening: CHA has submitted comments on the calendar year 2025 outpatient prospective payment system proposed rule.
What else to know: Comments were due to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on Sept. 9.
CHA Comments on CY 2025 Home Health Payment Rule
What’s happening: CHA submitted comments to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) in response to the calendar year 2025 home health prospective payment system proposed rule.
What else to know: CHA thanks members for their feedback, which helped to inform comments.
CHA Issues Summary of FFY 2025 LTCH PPS Final Rule
What’s happening: CHA has issued a summary of the finalized payment updates and policies for long-term care hospitals (LTCHs) for federal fiscal year (FFY) 2025.
What else to know: The policy and payment provisions are generally effective for FFY 2025 discharges, beginning Oct. 1.
CDPH Title 22 Draft Regulations Out for Public Comment
What’s happening: The comment period is now open for draft regulations released by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) on clinical laboratory, pharmaceutical, and dietetic services in general acute care hospitals.
What else to know: Comments are due to CDPH on Sept. 12.