Legal

CDPH Issues New Guidance to Support Doula Access in Hospitals

What’s happening: The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) released All Facilities Letter (AFL) 25-13 on March 24 that offers guidance to hospitals on supporting the Medi-Cal doula benefit — available since January 1, 2023 — and outlines recommendations for patient visitation policies and procedures. 

What else to know: As noted in the AFL, called Benefits of Doula Support and Recommendations to Accommodate Doula Services and Foster a Doula-Friendly Environment, doulas offer emotional, physical, and informational support during pregnancy, labor, delivery, and up to one year postpartum. Hospital policies play a key role in creating a welcoming environment for doulas and the families they serve.  

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.

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 to Host 2025 HR Conference

What’s happening: CHA has partnered with the Hospital Association of Southern California to host the 2025 HR Conference in Long Beach, taking place on 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, including recruitment and retention strategies, reasonable accommodation best practices, wage and hour compliance, and workplace investigations. Registration is open for CHA members.  

Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Finds Low Wage Index Policy Unlawful

What’s happening: CHA prevails in Kaweah Delta Health Care District, et al. v. Becerra, the legal challenge to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS’) low wage index policy. 

What else to know: CHA has supported this litigation on behalf of its members to reverse a policy that is harmful to all California hospitals.  

CHA Continues Work to Hold Insurers Accountable

What’s happening: CHA continues to await a response to the lawsuit filed against Anthem Blue Cross on April 23.    

What else to know: In the interim, CHA continues to collect information to support its position that many managed care plans, including Anthem Blue Cross, are violating certain provisions of the Knox-Keene Act.   

CHA Unveils Appellate Advocacy Tracker

What’s happening: CHA has released an appellate advocacy tracker that reports CHA’s amicus efforts to provide courts with important factual context and legal analysis, highlighting the ramifications of legal issues for hospitals.  

What else to know: The tracker contains both the links to the amicus documents that CHA files and the outcome of these efforts.