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.
House Passes First Package to Fund Federal Government, Includes Health Provisions
What’s happening: The U.S. House passed the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2024, which will fund a portion of the federal government through the end of the fiscal year. The package includes a group of CHA-supported health care provisions important to hospitals.
What else to know: Congress has until March 22 to pass a second package to fund the rest of the federal government, including the Department of Health and Human Services.
CHA Encourages Members to Participate in the Vitality Index Payer Scorecard
What’s happening: CHA is endorsing member participation in the Vitality Index Payer Scorecard, which will provide critical information to support CHA’s advocacy to hold insurers accountable for timely and accurate reimbursement.
What else to know: The CHA Board of Trustees has endorsed this tool, which will automatically draw de-identified claims and remittance information from hospitals without requiring additional reporting or surveys.
CMS Announces Flexibilities for Providers Impacted by Change Healthcare Hack
What’s happening: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a statement outlining the flexibilities it is offering to providers impacted by the Change Healthcare data breach.
What else to know: CHA is closely following this issue and will provide updates on additional steps CMS is taking as they become available.
CHA Provides Updated Federal Quality Measures Matrix
What’s happening: CHA has updated its federal quality measures matrix to reflect the 2024 federal fiscal year and calendar year Medicare prospective payment system final rules.
What else to know: The matrix includes quality measures required for public reporting and performance-based programs for hospitals and post-acute care providers.
CHA Will Host Vitality Payer Scorecard Webinar
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
What’s happening: CHA is hosting a complimentary, members-only webinar on Feb. 27 at 10 a.m. (PT) to highlight the American Hospital Association Vitality Payer Scorecard, which was recently endorsed by the CHA board.
What else to know: The scorecard captures necessary and normalized data points without sharing protected health information. The automated process is based on de-identified claims and remittance files and eliminates the need for CHA surveys on this issue.
CHA Continues to Urge Congress to Reject Harmful Site-Neutral Payment Cuts
What’s happening: Congress has until March 8 to negotiate a potential health care package that could include Medicare site-neutral payment cuts, which are also being considered in several other bills.
What else to know: CHA opposes the cuts and continues to inform the California congressional delegation of the proposals’ harmful impacts.
CMS Updates Hospital Guidance for Texting Patient Info
What’s happening: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) updated guidance for hospitals and critical access hospitals related to texting patient information.
What else to know: Hospitals should use a Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act-compliant secure texting platform that complies with Medicare and Medicaid conditions of participation.
Changes Proposed for Accrediting Organizations Requirements
What’s happening: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued proposed changes to accrediting organization (AO) requirements.
What else to know: The proposed changes are intended to strengthen the agency’s oversight of AOs and prevent conflicts of interest. Comments are due to CMS by 2 p.m. (PT) on April 15.
Medicare Coverage for Behavioral Health Expanded
What’s happening: The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) announced that Medicare will cover visits with mental health counselors, addiction counselors, and marriage and family therapists, effective since Jan. 1.
What else to know: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will conduct both routine and focused program audits of Medicare Advantage (MA) organizations in 2024 to assess compliance with new requirements.
CMS Provides “Two-Midnight Rule” Guidance for Medicare Advantage Plans
What’s happening: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a frequently asked questions (FAQ) document on finalized contract year 2024 Medicare Advantage (MA) policies.
What else to know: The document provides guidance on how the “two-midnight” hospital admissions policies apply to MA patients when MA organizations are permitted to deny payment through post-claim audits.