Final Rule on ACA Marketplace Integrity Aims to Address ‘Improper’ Enrollment
What’s happening: On June 20, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued its final rule on Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace integrity and affordability.
EMSA Solicits Hospital Feedback on APOT Audit Tool
What’s happening: The Emergency Medical Services Authority (EMSA) will host a hospitals-only webinar on June 24 from 8-9:30 a.m. (PT) to share more information about its new “APOT Audit Tool” and solicit feedback.
FDA Inaction Effectively Eliminates Final Rule to Regulate Laboratory-Developed Tests
What’s happening: The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) did not appeal the March 31 final judgment in which a U.S. district court ruled that it lacks the authority to regulate laboratory-developed tests as medical devices, effectively eliminating the May 6, 2024, final rule.
CHA Comments on IPPS Proposed Rule
What’s happening: CHA submitted comments in response to the federal fiscal year 2026 inpatient prospective payment system (IPPS) proposed rule, highlighting the inadequate proposed net payment update.
CHA Submits Recommended Staff Ratios for Psychiatric Hospitals
What’s happening: Last week, CHA submitted recommended staff ratios for acute psychiatric hospitals (PDF) to the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), urging the state to require a multi-disciplinary care team approach including registered nurses, licensed vocational nurses, psychiatric technicians, and mental health workers.
Federal Agencies Will Not Enforce Mental Health Parity Final Rule
What’s happening: On May 15, the U.S. departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and the Treasury announced that they will not enforce the 2024 mental health parity final rule that aimed to improve access to mental health services by requiring health plans to make changes when inadequate access is provided.
Summary Details CMS Proposal to Modify Health Care-Related Taxes
What’s happening: Earlier this month, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed changes to Medicaid health care-related tax rules that pose significant risks to California’s managed care organization (MCO) tax and Hospital Quality Assurance Fee Program.
CHA Issues Summaries of IPPS, LTCH PPS Proposed Rule
What’s happening: Summaries of the federal fiscal year 2026 inpatient prospective payment system (IPPS) and long-term care hospital (LTCH) PPS proposed rule are now available, and on May 21, CHA will host a complimentary, members-only webinar on the IPPS provisions.
Proposed Changes to Medicaid Health Care-Related Tax Rules Threaten MCO Tax, Hospital Fee Program
What’s happening: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued proposed changes to the Medicaid health care-related tax rules that present significant risks for California’s managed care organization (MCO) tax and Hospital Quality Assurance Fee Program — both of which hospitals rely on to deliver patient care. Comments on the proposed rule are due to CMS by July 14.
Mandatory Neurodegenerative Disease Reporting Begins July 1
What’s happening: Starting July 1, providers diagnosing or treating patients with neurodegenerative diseases — such as Alzheimer’s, multiple sclerosis, or Parkinson’s — are required to report each case to the California Neurodegenerative Disease Registry, run by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH).