The newsroom includes access to CHA News, which provides timely information to members every 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
Waiver Duration Extended for Unlicensed Psychologists
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
The California Department of Public Health has released the attached All Facilities Letter 18-07, informing health care facilities that Assembly Bill 1456 (Chapter 151, Statutes of 2017) extends the maximum duration of waivers issued to unlicensed psychologists gaining qualifying experience toward their license from three to four years. The law, which took effect July 31, 2017, makes no changes to waiver eligibility requirements. Questions about requesting a waiver should be directed to the department’s State Facilities Section at (855) 804-4205 or cdph_lnc_sfs@cdph.gov.
Hospital Quality Institute Announces New Webinars, Workshops
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
As part of its programming for Health Services Advisory Group’s Hospital Improvement Innovation Network, the Hospital Quality Institute (HQI) offers web-based learning opportunities to strengthen patient and family engagement and address health care disparities. There is no cost to attend, and the events are open to all hospitals participating in the innovation network.
The first event, on Jan. 23 from noon to 1 p.m. (PT), will discuss strategies for recruiting patient and family advisors. Part of the monthly Patient and Family Engagement Think Tanks series, the event will be guided by Libby Hoy of PFCCpartners. The Think Tanks feature peer learning and expert technical assistance for meeting the patient and family engagement metrics endorsed by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Registration is available online.
Informational Webinar to Address California Maternal Quality Care Collaborative
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
The California Maternal Quality Care Collaborative will host an informational webinar on Jan. 25 from noon to 1 p.m. (PT) for hospitals interested in joining the collaborative and using its Maternal Data Center to improve their perinatal performance. The California Maternal Quality Care Collaborative is a multi-stakeholder organization committed to ending preventable morbidity, mortality and racial disparities in California maternity care. The organization uses research, quality improvement toolkits, statewide outreach collaboratives and its Maternal Data Center to improve health outcomes for mothers and infants. Webinar details are available online.
National Advisory Committee Publishes Two New Policy Briefs on Rural Health
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The National Advisory Committee on Rural Health & Human Services — a citizens’ panel of nationally-recognized rural health experts that provides semi-annual recommendations on rural issues to the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services — has released two new policy briefs. The first brief, titled Understanding the Impact of Suicide in Rural America, recommends that the Secretary 1) require the department to conduct a national comprehensive evaluation that assesses existing state and tribal efforts to reduce rural suicide rates and that identifies successful evidence-based, rural-specific strategies that can be implemented within states and tribal communities; and 2) require the Agency for Health Research and Quality and the National Institutes of Mental Health to conduct research on the use of community health workers to determine if these efforts can reduce suicide risk and increase referrals for at-risk individuals. The second brief, Modernizing Rural Health Clinic Provisions, offers a number of recommendations to improve the statutory and regulatory foundation of rural health clinics, which has not been updated in 30 years and is not well aligned to meet today’s health care needs.
CMS Regional Office to Hold Call on Data Submission for Quality Payment Program
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The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) San Francisco Regional Office will hold a call Feb. 1 at 3 p.m. (PT) to discuss data submission as part of the Quality Payment Program. Discussion topics include an overview of the submission process, program updates and options for clinicians in small practices to receive free technical assistance. Speakers include Dr. Ashby Wolfe, CMS’ chief medical officer for the San Francisco Regional Office, and Neal Logue, a CMS health insurance specialist. Registration is available online.
CHA Urges Support of Bill to Increase Preparedness Funding
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
Today, CHA sent the attached letter to the California congressional delegation supporting House Resolution 4776, the Hospital Preparedness Reauthorization Act of 2018.
The bill would increase the level of federal funding to the Hospital Preparedness Program, the only source of federal funding authorized to support regional health care system preparedness and readiness for natural disasters and threats. CHA established the CHA Hospital Preparedness Program through this grant funding. In its letter, CHA notes that the program is critical to establishing necessary resources and sustained support for hospitals in all-hazards disaster planning and response.
CHA Distributes 2017-19 Hospital Fee Program Schedules
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
On Jan. 12 the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) sent hospitals invoices covering the first six fee-for-service cycles of the 2017-19 Hospital Fee Program. The first invoice has a due date of Feb. 5; hospitals will receive the first fee-for-service payment on Feb. 26. On Friday, CHA distributed hospital-specific schedules to assist in tracking when the fees are due to DHCS and when fee-for-service payments should be received. The schedules were created using the draft model that was sent to hospitals last week in CHA News, and include an estimate of the pledge contribution to the California Health Foundation and Trust (if applicable). The information in the schedules represents CHA’s best estimates based on the portions of the program currently approved by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. If any hospital does not pay its fees to DHCS in full and on time, all hospitals will receive decreased supplemental fee-for-service payments.
CHA has also included estimates for the Medi-Cal managed care components of the 2017-19 Hospital Fee Program. However, it is important to note that the managed care components of the program have not been approved by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and, therefore, the payment amounts in the draft model are very preliminary. Furthermore, the supplemental Medi-Cal managed care payments made through the new directed payment mechanism have been estimated using inpatient utilization data publicly reported to the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development for the fiscal year ending in 2015. However, in actuality, the directed payments will be made for inpatient and outpatient services provided to in-network patients during the current state fiscal year. CHA will continue to update members through CHA News; all updates can be found on the CHA website.
Small House Skilled-Nursing Facilities Pilot Program Seeks Participants
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
The California Department of Public Health has released two All Facilities Letters, 17-29 and 17-30, related to the Small House Skilled-Nursing Facilities Pilot Program. The program, authorized by Senate Bill 1228 (Chapter 671, Statutes of 2012), allows the department to authorize the development and operation of up to 10 small house skilled-nursing facilities that are licensed to provide skilled-nursing care and supportive care to patients in small, homelike, residential settings that incorporate emerging patient-centered health care concepts. The department also released program standards that outline location, building design, staffing and training requirements. Interested facilities are encouraged to review application procedures, scoring criteria and the participation agreement.
MedPAC Recommends Medicare Payment Updates for 2019
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The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) met last week to vote on its recommendations for Medicare fee-for-service payment and policy changes for federal fiscal year and calendar year 2019. The commission did not change its payment update recommendations from the draft recommendations discussed in December, including a recommendation to update hospital inpatient and outpatient payments as determined by current law, which is expected to result in an increase of approximately 1.25 percent.
In addition, the commission passed a recommendation, by a vote of 14-2, that Congress eliminate the physician Merit-Based Incentive Payment System and replace it with a voluntary value-based payment system that would require physicians to be measured in groups on population-based measures. MedPAC also discussed its mandated reports on the effects of the hospital readmissions reduction program and coverage of telehealth services in Medicare and commercial plans. Presentation materials are available and a transcript will be posted to MedPAC’s website. The commission will include its approved recommendations in a March report to Congress.
New Law Modifies Notice, Planning Requirements for Long-Term Care Facilities
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The California Department of Public Health has released All Facilities Letter 18-10, clarifying that, when long-term care facilities have a change in licensure or operation that will result in an ability to care for residents, they must meet new notice and planning requirements. Assembly Bill 275 (Chapter 185, Statutes of 2017), which took effect Jan. 1, requires facilities to provide 60 days’ notice to residents and the state long-term care ombudsman, as well as notify in writing the Department of Health Care Services and any affected health plan at least 60 days before the change. The law also specifies requirements for community meetings, proposed relocation plans, resident assessments and withdrawal of closure.
