About Medicare
The federal Medicare program is an essential pillar of the state’s health care system, supporting more than 6 million Californians over the age of 65 and younger Californians with disabilities. One in five hospitals is at risk of closing, in part because Medicare reimbursement rates are far lower than the cost of providing care. It’s essential that future federal Medicare policy protects patient care.
CMS Updates Hospital Surveyor Guidance to Address Discharge Planning, Notification Requirements, and More
What’s happening: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has revised Appendix A of the State Operations Manual to include new interpretive guidelines and survey processes.
CHA Issues Summary of CY 2026 OPPS Final Rule
What’s happening: A detailed summary of the finalized provisions of the calendar year (CY) 2026 outpatient prospective payment system (OPPS) final rule is available for members.
IRF Review Choice Demonstration to begin in CA in 2026
What is happening: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced that it will be expanding the Review Choice Demonstration (RCD) for Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility (IRF) Services to California, beginning May 1, 2026.
House Passes Five-Year Extension of Hospital-at-Home Program
What’s happening: On Dec. 1, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the CHA-supported Hospital Inpatient Services Modernization Act (H.R. 4313) which would extend the Hospital-at-Home program for five years, through Sept. 30, 2030.
CMS to Decrease Home Health Payments 1.3% in 2026
What’s happening: On Nov. 28, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued the calendar year (CY) 2026 home health prospective payment system final rule.
CHA Releases Guide to Improve Homelessness Reporting Ahead of Potential Reimbursement Changes
What’s happening: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) now considers homelessness a “complication or comorbidity,” acknowledging the increased care resources this population requires. This acknowledgement signals potential Medicare reimbursement changes in the future.
D.C. Download: The Good, the Bad, and the Unknown
Congressional votes to end the federal government shutdown have brought several pieces of good news for health care. Other developments out of Washington, D.C., have more mixed results.
CMS Finalizes CY 2026 Payment Policies for Physicians
What’s happening: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued the calendar year (CY) 2026 physician fee schedule final rule.
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