About Licensing & Accreditation
Hospital licensing and certification is complex. CHA offers resources to help hospitals meet robust licensing requirements, including the California Hospital Survey Manual, which explains both California and federal requirements and helps hospitals prepare for the survey process, explains how surveys are conducted, and offers tips for a successful survey.
CDPH Pauses Real-Time Bed Capacity System Implementation
What’s happening: The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) is temporarily pausing implementation of its real-time hospital bed capacity system — named the Hospital Bed and Emergency Medical Services Data System — as it works to finalize operational details.
HCAI’s Advisory Guide Explains Health Care Microgrid Requirements and More
What’s happening: Due to the continuity of electrical power required to support patient care, requirements for health care microgrids are above and beyond those of traditional microgrids — and health care facilities with microgrid projects under the Department of Health Care Access and Information’s (HCAI’s) jurisdiction can turn to a new microgrid advisory guide for assistance understanding the process.
CDPH Announces Stakeholder Meeting on Psychiatric Hospital Staffing Regulations
What’s happening: The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) released All Facilities Letter (AFL) 25-16 on April 29, announcing the beginning of its regulatory process for establishing nurse-to-patient ratios in acute psychiatric hospitals.
Acute Psychiatric Hospitals Should Review Adverse Event Reporting Policies
What’s happening: The California Department of Public Health released All Facilities Letter (AFL) 25-15 on April 29, reminding acute psychiatric hospitals about existing requirements to report adverse events and unusual occurrences.
CHA Publishes Web Page Dedicated to CDPH Checklists, Info Sheets
What’s happening: To assist hospitals in preparing for licensing and relicensing surveys — as well as making changes to their licenses, bed capacities, or services — CHA has created a web page that makes related resources easily accessible for hospital members.
What else to know: The resource page includes the Licensing and Relicensing Survey Tool, General Entrance Conference List, Relicensing Survey Guidance materials, and more.
CDPH All Facilities Letter Shares Change in Late Payment Penalty Notices
What’s happening: On April 4, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) issued an All Facilities Letter (AFL 25-14), which announced that the department is implementing a paperless process to communicate late payment penalty notices for Center for Health Care Quality health care facility licensing fees.
What else to know: Beginning May 15, CDPH’s current practice — mailing a paper copy of the late payment penalty notice to the licensee — will change to a paperless process: CDPH’s Revenue Collection Unit will email the notice to the facility using the licensee email address reported to CDPH. If no licensee email address is on file, the unit will email the notice to the facility’s general contact email address reported to CDPH.
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.
HCAI Seeks Feedback on AB 1204 Technical Assistance by March 31
What’s happening: The Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI) recently released a survey to the hospital field to ascertain hospitals’ needs in complying with Assembly Bill (AB) 1204 (2021), which requires that they submit annual health equity data reports. The first report is due Sept. 30.
What else to know: The survey will help HCAI identify areas where additional technical assistance will be needed. Responses to the survey are due by March 31.
Upcoming HCAI Webinar Covers Nonstructural Performance Category 5 Water Rationing Plan
What’s happening: On March 27, the Department of Health Care Access and Information’s (HCAI’s) Seismic Compliance Unit is holding a webinar from 9-10 a.m. (PT) on the requirement for the nonstructural performance category (NPC) 5 water rationing plan, which would support 72 hours of emergency operations.
Upcoming Webinar Discusses New CDPH Hospital Bed Tracking System
What’s happening: Using the system developed by the Hospital Association of Oregon, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has launched implementation of a statewide, real-time bed tracking system: the Hospital Bed and Emergency Medical Services System (HBEDS).
What else to know: On April 3, CHA is hosting a members-only webinar to share CDPH’s goals for HBEDS and how it works. Registration is open for CHA members.