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 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.
HCAI Notice Details Information on AB 869 Seismic Compliance Delay Provisions
What’s happening: Assembly Bill (AB) 869 (2024) authorizes the Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI) to grant eligible general acute care hospitals a delay of up to three years beyond the Jan. 1, 2030, deadline for the seismic compliance of hospital buildings, provided that specified criteria are met.
What else to know: Policy Intent Notice (PIN) 80 outlines HCAI’s policy for implementing AB 869’s seismic compliance provisions. Hospitals requesting a delay must submit their seismic compliance plan by Jan. 1, 2026.
HCAI Hosts Upcoming Webinar on Seismic Nonstructural Performance Category Requirements
What’s happening: On March 18, the Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI) is conducting a free webinar on seismic nonstructural performance category (NPC) requirements.
What else to know: Registration is open.
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.
New CDPH All Facilities Letters Provide Additional Guidance for General Acute Care, Psychiatric Hospitals
What’s happening: On Feb. 24, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) released four new All Facilities Letters (AFLs) on laws that became effective Jan. 1. These AFLs affect general acute care and acute psychiatric hospitals, and other health care facilities.
What else to know: For more information, visit the CDPH’s web page https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CHCQ/LCP/Pages/LNCAFL25.aspx.
DHCS Shares Flexibilities for Hospitals in Light of Los Angeles Fires
What’s happening: On Feb. 4, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an executive order that removed certain barriers to expedite relief for survivors of the Los Angeles fires. The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) has also extended audit-related administrative flexibilities due to the fire and has shared with CHA highlights of these flexibilities that may affect hospitals.
What else to know: The executive order extends deadlines for health care providers to submit requests to DHCS for scope of service changes. Additional details about these and the DHCS audit-related administrative flexibilities are outlined in this document.