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
A Call to Commitment on Longstanding Health Equity Challenges
January 2022 Public Reporting Data Available for Preview Until Nov. 18
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has released the January 2022 public reporting hospital data for preview through Nov. 18.
CHA encourages hospitals to thoroughly review the data, as it will be publicly reported on the Care Compare website in January 2022.
The preview period is for hospitals and facilities participating in the hospital inpatient quality reporting, hospital outpatient quality reporting, inpatient psychiatric facility quality reporting, and prospective payment system-exempt cancer hospitals quality reporting programs.
Hospitals can preview the data on the Hospital Quality Reporting page on QualityNet. Additional information, including help guides and quick reference guides, is available online.
CHA Submits Comments to Inform Future Public Charge Policies
CHA has submitted a comment letter to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on its advanced notice of proposed rulemaking to inform a future regulatory proposal on the public charge ground of inadmissibility.
In the letter, CHA urges DHS to ensure future policies are clear, consistent, and do not cause undue fear among immigrant families accessing the public services available to them. Specifically, CHA urges DHS to clarify in a future proposed rule that acceptance of public health insurance benefits for which an immigrant is eligible — including Medi-Cal and the Children’s Health Insurance Program — would not be considered a factor in public charge determinations.
CHA Releases Report on New Laws Impacting Hospitals in 2022
CHA has released its 2021 Report on State Legislation, which hospitals can use as they navigate the nearly 800 bills the governor signed into law this year.
Designed to help hospitals understand the implications of and comply with the bills that will have the biggest impact on your facilities, the report also serves as a reference tool for the broad health care-related legislative activity that occurred this year.
Hospital leadership teams are encouraged to review and share the report so they can take any necessary steps to implement new requirements.
Statutory changes become effective Jan. 1, 2022, unless otherwise noted. Each measure is categorized by subject and indicates which hospital team members might be involved in compliance. In addition, the laws are indexed by author, bill number, and staff role.
FDA Authorizes Booster Doses for Moderna, Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Vaccines
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has amended emergency use authorization (EUA) for COVID-19 vaccines to allow booster doses for the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines. Specifically, the EUA allows for a single-dose booster in the following circumstances:
- The use of a single booster dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine may be administered at least six months after completion of the primary series to individuals:
- Ages 65 and older
- Ages 18-64 at high risk of severe COVID-19
- Ages 18-64 with frequent institutional or occupational exposure to SARS-CoV-2
- The use of a single booster dose of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine may be administered at least two months after completion of the single-dose primary regimen to individuals ages 18 older.
The FDA also authorizes a heterologous (or “mix and match”) booster dose in eligible individuals following completion of primary vaccination with a different available COVID-19 vaccine.
CMS Innovation Center Outlines Strategy for Next 10 Years
The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation issued a white paper outlining its strategic direction for the next 10 years.
According to the Center, the goal of the new strategy is to achieve equitable outcomes through high-quality, affordable, person-centered care, carried out through five strategic objectives:
- Drive accountable care
- Advance health equity
- Support innovation
- Address affordability
- Partner to achieve system transformation
Additional information is available in an FAQ document and on the Innovation Center website.
CHA Education Events
- Oct. 26: CDPH Leadership Updates and District Sessions
- Nov. 4: No Surprises Act: Dispute Resolution Process and Self-Pay Estimates
- Dec. 6 & 7: Behavioral Health Care Symposium – 2021 Forward Motion: Moving a Crisis Into Action
- The Hospital Quality Institute’s “Care for the Caregiver” webinar is available as an on-demand recording.
For more information about CHA education programs, visit calhospital.org/education-publications.
HQI to Host Webinar on Breastfeeding and Perinatal Mental Health
As part of its Perinatal Mental Health (PMH) Learning Community, the Hospital Quality Institute (HQI) will host a free webinar on Oct. 21 from noon to 1 p.m. (PT) on breastfeeding and perinatal mental health.
The webinar, which will be led by perinatal health and mental health advocate and consultant Nakeisha Robinson, MA, LMFT, will discuss the role that breast/chestfeeding plays in perinatal mental health and identify ways to support breast/chestfeeding for individuals struggling with mental health disorders.
The PMH Learning Community is HQI’s program aimed at strengthening approaches to mental health during the perinatal period. The program website contains a wealth of resources for hospitals. This includes an e-learning course for staff, an app for patients and families, various sample policies, and other materials shared by participating hospitals. In addition, slides and recordings are available from over 20 webinars and group office hours held to date.
Participation helps hospitals comply with Assembly Bill 3032 (Frazier), which requires educating perinatal employees about maternal mental health conditions as well as informing postpartum women and families about the signs and symptoms of maternal mental health disorders, post-hospital treatment options, and community resources.
For more information about the PMH Learning Community, visit the program website or email Julia Slininger, RN, BS, CPHQ.
CDPH Seeking Stakeholder Input on Title 22 Revisions
On Oct. 12, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) released All Facilities Letter (AFL) 21-38, which seeks input from stakeholders in amending Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations related to general acute care hospitals.
Specifically, CDPH is requesting feedback on the regulations related to general acute care hospitals on coronary care service, dental service, intensive care service, distinct part intermediate care service, and distinct part skilled-nursing service.
CDPH has identified 11 questions for stakeholders on these regulations, which CHA has compiled in this list. CDPH is requesting that feedback on these questions be submitted via SurveyMonkey no later than Nov. 11.
CHA will respond on behalf of the hospital field and will share its response with the field in advance of CDPH’s deadline, to assists hospitals or health systems that may want to reference it in developing a response from their respective organizations.
HHS Renews COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Declaration
The Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has renewed the COVID-19 public health emergency declaration for another 90 days, effective Oct. 18.
The 90-day renewal puts the public health emergency in place through Jan. 16, 2022, and ensures flexibilities — like waivers and special rules tied to the declaration — remain in place for providers.
Member Stories
Member Stories highlight the impact that CHA member hospitals make in patients' lives and in the communities they serve.
