About Legal, Regulatory, & Licensing
CHA’s legal department works on behalf of member hospitals and health systems in a variety of ways:
- Advocating before the courts both as a party in litigation and as amicus curiae in important appellate cases
- Assisting hospital compliance officers, privacy officers, and other staff with compliance with the myriad federal and state laws that govern hospital administration and the delivery of health care. This includes CHA’s California Health Information Privacy Manual, a California-specific resource that compares privacy requirements under HIPAA to state laws, and the California Hospital Compliance Manual, which covers high-risk compliance issues.
- Representing the interests of California hospitals before state and federal courts in lawsuits involving MICRA, reimbursement, labor and employment, medical staff, and other issues
- Assistance with medical staff bylaws
- Expertise in mental health law
This section also includes information about the California Department of Public Health’s (CDPH) Licensing and Certification Division, which is responsible for the licensure, regulation, inspection, and certification of health care facilities and certain health care professionals in California.
Medical Board Updates Required ‘Notice to Consumers’ Signage
The Medical Board of California (MBC) has updated its required “Notice to Consumers” signage — effective Jan. 1 — for physicians, research psychoanalysts, licensed midwives, and polysomnographic technologists, technicians, and trainees. For practitioners working in hospitals or clinics, the MBC requires a sign be posted in an area visible to patients, in at least 38-point […]
CMS Issues Guidance, FAQs, Survey Procedures for Rural Emergency Hospitals
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has issued new guidance on the enrollment and conversion process for rural emergency hospitals (REHs), FAQs, and a newly developed State Operations Manual Appendix (Appendix O) with survey procedures. Interpretive guidelines for REHs are still pending and will be released at a future date. The state of California […]
CDPH Provides Guidance for General Acute Care Hospitals
The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has issued several new and updated All Facilities Letters (AFLs).
CHA Issues Draft Comments on Proposed Changes to 340B ADR Process
CHA has issued members-only draft comments on the proposed rule updating the 340B administrative dispute resolution (ADR) process.
Updates on the No Surprises Act Implementation
Join Amanda Hayes-Kibreab, partner at Kings-Spalding, as she shares insights on the No Surprises Act.
Civil Rights Department Releases Templates for Pay Reports
In response to a newly enacted law, the California Civil Rights Department (formerly the Department of Fair Employment and Housing) has issued FAQs and templates to help employers create pay reports.
Template Letter Available to Help Members Address Concerns with Data Sharing Agreement
Last week, CHA released a template letter that members can use in response to the state if their hospital decides not to sign the Data Sharing Agreement (DSA) at this time.
CMS Releases Additional Information on Converting to a Medicare Rural Emergency Hospital
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released additional information about the enrollment process that is required for critical access hospitals and rural prospective payment system hospitals with 50 or fewer beds to convert to a Medicare rural emergency hospital (REH).
CMS Announces Changes to SNF Oversight and Reporting
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced additional oversight activity as well as updated reporting practices for skilled-nursing facilities (SNFs).
CDPH Provides Updated Guidance for SNFs
The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has issued several new and updated All Facilities Letters (AFLs) for skilled-nursing facilities (SNFs).