About Medi-Cal
More than 15 million Californians rely on Medi-Cal, the state’s version of the federal program known as Medicaid, for health insurance. The program acts as California’s health care coverage safety net, with those on Medi-Cal often living in communities with a lack of adequate health care providers. Without significant investments to support providers that deliver health care to California’s most vulnerable, millions living in rural and underserved areas are in jeopardy.
CHA Requests Feedback on Hospital Fee Program 10 Proposed Data by Nov. 25
What’s happening: CHA has been working closely with the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) to develop Hospital Fee Program 10 — a one-year program that would utilize 2023 data and start on Jan. 1, 2026. With each Hospital Fee Program renewal, DHCS retrieves the requisite hospital data and updates the fee and payment model as directed under the authorizing legislation found under...
Medi-Cal Treatment Authorization Request System to Be Updated
What’s happening: From Nov. 15- 18, the Medi-Cal Treatment Authorization Request (TAR) system will be unavailable as it is migrated to a new platform.
CHA Urges Congress to Retroactively Delay Medicaid DSH Payment Reductions
What’s happening: CHA joined California’s public, private, and community safety-net hospitals in urging Congress to retroactively delay the Medicaid disproportionate share hospital (DSH) payment cuts that went into effect on Oct. 1.
Key Priorities for 2026 Shaping Up
As your association looks to the coming year to advance policies that support the critical services California hospitals provide, three key areas are coming into sharper focus:
Looking to the Future with CHA’s Board
With just a couple of months left in 2025, last week’s meeting of the CHA Board of Trustees was an important opportunity to reflect and learn from all that’s happened this year — from monumental federal policy changes to a strong showing at the state level — and to look toward the work for next year and beyond
2025 Hospital Finance & Reimbursement Conference Approaching
What’s happening: On Nov. 3-4, California hospital finance experts will gather at CHA’s members-only Hospital Finance & Reimbursement Conference to examine the fiscal impact of state and federal regulations and policies on hospitals.
CMS Approves Calendar Year 2023 Medi-Cal Managed Care Rates
What’s happening: On Sept. 30, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) approved the Medi-Cal managed care rates for the rating period from Jan. 1, 2023, to Dec. 31, 2023.
H.R.1 Implications and Hospital Quality Assurance Fee Overview
Newsom Administration Proposal to Use Proposition 35 Funds to Balance State Budget Thwarts Will of California Voters
SACRAMENTO (May 14, 2025) — “Just two days after a congressional committee released a federal budget proposal that would hollow out Californians’ health care services through drastic Medicaid cuts, the state’s May budget revision proposal piles on. The state would fill its spending gap by taking $1.6 billion from resources that voters directed to Medi-Cal providers and protecting access to care,” said Carmela Coyle, President & CEO of the California Hospital Association.
Medicaid Cuts Will Hurt All Californians
SACRAMENTO (May 12, 2025) — “The legislation proposed by the House Energy and Commerce Committee to enact massive Medicaid cuts is a devastating blow that will be felt by all who need hospital care,” said Carmela Coyle, President & CEO of the California Hospital Association. “Cuts of this magnitude cannot be absorbed. Hospitals will have no other choice but to reduce patient care services or, in the worst cases, close entirely. That means care is lost for everyone — children, seniors, privately insured people — no matter what type of health insurance coverage you have.”