New Interoperability Final Rule Focuses on Information Sharing
What’s happening: The Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy (ASTP) and Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology issued the second part of a final rule to advance interoperability and improve information sharing among patients, providers, payers, and public health authorities.
What else to know: This final rule focuses on information blocking exceptions, including reproductive health data policies.
CHA Summary Covers Proposed Changes to Medicare Advantage Part D Plans
What’s happening: CHA has issued a members-only summary of the proposed changes to Medicare Advantage (MA) and Part D programs for contract year 2026.
What else to know: The summary, prepared by Health Policy Alternatives, Inc., also includes proposals to codify existing sub-regulatory guidance in the MA Part C and Part D programs.
Final Rule Advances Interoperability, Info Sharing in Health Care
What’s happening: The Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy (ASTP) and Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology issued a final rule to advance interoperability and improve information sharing among patients, providers, payers, and public health authorities.
What else to know: In future rulemaking, the ASTP will finalize additional policies included in the proposed rule.
CHA Issues Summaries of CY 2025 OPPS, Physician Fee Schedule Final Rules
What’s happening: Summaries of the calendar year (CY) 2025 outpatient prospective payment system (OPPS) and physician fee schedule final rules are available for CHA members.
What else to know: The rules are effective Jan. 1, 2025.
Proposed Rule Would Increase Medicare Advantage Plan Oversight
What’s happening: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a proposed rule for contract year 2026 that would increase oversight of Medicare Advantage (MA) plans.
What else to know: The rule includes additional proposed changes to the prior authorization process and guardrails for artificial intelligence use.
CHA FAQs Detail AB 2975 Hospital Weapon Detection Requirements
What’s happening: Following numerous questions about Assembly Bill (AB) 2975’s requirements, CHA has developed a frequently-asked-questions (FAQs) fact sheet to assist hospitals with planning for implementation.
What else to know: AB 2975 will require all hospitals to adopt and implement a weapon detection policy — and screen at certain entrances for instruments capable of causing death or serious bodily injury — by sometime around March 2027.
CHA Supports Eliminating Low Wage Index Hospital Policy for FFY 2025
What’s happening: CHA submitted comments in support of an interim final rule that eliminates the low wage index policy and associated budget neutrality adjustment for federal fiscal year (FFY) 2025.
What else to know: The rule was issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) in response to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit (D.C. Circuit) decision in Bridgeport Hospital, et al., v. Becerra.
DEA, HHS Extend Telehealth Prescribing Flexibilities
What’s happening: The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) extended existing waiver flexibilities for prescribing controlled substances via telemedicine through Dec. 31, 2025.
What else to know: This is the third extension.
2025 ESRD PPS Final Rule Members-Only Summary Available Now
What’s happening: A members-only summary of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ calendar year (CY) 2025 end-stage renal disease (ESRD) prospective payment system (PPS) final rule, prepared by Health Policy Alternatives, Inc., is available.
What else to know: The regulation is effective Jan. 1, 2025.
Members-Only Summary on CMS 2025 Home Health PPS Final Rule Now Available
What’s happening: A summary of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ calendar year (CY) 2025 home health (HH) prospective payment system (PPS) final rule, prepared by Health Policy Alternatives, Inc., is available solely to CHA members.
What else to know: The regulation is effective Jan. 1, 2025.