The newsroom includes access to CHA News, which provides timely information to members every Monday and Thursday and is at the core of CHA benefits. In addition, it is also home to resources such as toolkits and talking points designed to help member hospitals and health systems communicate with internal and external audiences on a range of current health care-related issues. Links to CHA media statements and press releases can also be found here.
Newsroom
Updates for the Week of July 19
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services issued the following updates this week:
- Medicare Promoting Interoperability Program Hardship Exception Application for Eligible Hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals for PY 2020 is Now Available
- COVID-19: EUA for Tocilizumab Monoclonal Antibody Product
- Payment Advisory: Request for Current Billing Information for Qualifying APM Participants
HRSA Awards Funds to Rural Health Clinics for COVID-19 Vaccine Outreach
The Health Services & Resources Administration (HRSA) will administer $98 million in grant awards to eligible rural health clinics (RHCs) through its RHC Vaccine Confidence Program.
The funds will go to more than 1,980 RHCs to help with COVID-19 vaccine outreach — of which $5,893,951 will be distributed to 119 RHCs in California.
CMS Issues CY 2022 Outpatient Prospective Payment System Proposed Rule
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued its calendar year (CY) 2022 outpatient prospective payment system (OPPS) proposed rule on July 19. CMS estimates that Medicare expenditures under OPPS will increase by $1.35 billion based on changes in the proposed rule. Comments on the rule are due by 2 p.m. (PT) on Sept. 17.
Read moreCDPH Extends Statewide Space Waiver, OSHPD Issues Updated Notice
In case you missed it, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) announced on July 16 in All-Facilities Letter 20-26.9 that the statewide space waiver for hospitals, which was set to expire July 17, has been extended until Sept. 30.
Read moreCalifornia Supreme Court Issues Ruling on Missed Meal, Rest, and Recovery Period Compensation
A recent California Supreme Court decision on meal, rest, and recovery period violations could have major implications for many of the state’s employers — including hospitals.
Under current law, an employee who does not receive a meal, rest, or recovery period is owed “one additional hour of pay at the employee’s regular rate of compensation.” For many labor attorneys, this was interpreted to mean an additional hour of pay at the employee’s base pay rate — that is, the employee’s hourly pay rate, not including overtime compensation or bonuses. However, under a recent California Supreme Court decision, this is no longer permissible.
On July 15, the court ruled unanimously in Ferra v. Loews that the requirement of an additional hour of compensation at the employee’s “regular rate of compensation” has the same meaning as “regular rate of pay,” requiring the inclusion of overtime and bonuses with the employee’s base pay rate. As this ruling is retroactive, hospitals that compensate missed meal, rest, and recovery periods solely based on the employee’s base pay rate are out of compliance with the law and may face significant legal liability.
CHA encourages all hospitals to review their pay practices to ensure they are in full compliance with the law and to reach out to their California labor law counsel with any questions.
Read moreBlue Shield Transitions from Third-Party Administrator to Advisory Role for State’s COVID-19 Vaccine Program
Quality and Safety Through Transparency and Compassion
As the quality and safety arm for CHA and the Regional Associations, the Hospital Quality Institute (HQI) is always working to find new ways to help hospitals not only improve the lives of the patients they touch, but also create a culture of patient safety within their organizations.
Read moreCMS Issues CY 2022 Outpatient Prospective Payment System Proposed Rule
Today, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services issued its calendar year 2022 outpatient prospective payment system proposed rule. CHA is analyzing the regulation and will provide additional details in Thursday’s CHA News.
New HQI Program Inspires Culture Change, Drives Patient Safety
The Hospital Quality Institute (HQI) and CHA’s three regional associations — Hospital Council – Northern & Central California, the Hospital Association of Southern California, and the Hospital Association of San Diego & Imperial Counties — have launched a new program called HQI Cares: Implementing BETA HEART® to Build a Culture of Safety.
Read moreCHA Webinar on No Surprises Act Will Detail Implementation for California Hospitals
CHA will host a complimentary, members-only webinar on Aug. 6 from 9 to 10 a.m. (PT) to discuss implementation of the No Surprises Act and to help members understand the notice and consent process, along with qualifying payment calculation.
Read more
Member Stories
Member Stories highlight the impact that CHA member hospitals make in patients' lives and in the communities they serve.
