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
CHA DataSuite Analyzes FFY 2025 Medicare Skilled-Nursing Facility Proposed Rule
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
What’s happening: CHA DataSuite issued a hospital-specific analysis of the federal fiscal year (FFY) 2025 Medicare skilled-nursing facility prospective payment system proposed rule analysis. What else to know: The analysis is intended to show hospitals how Medicare fee-for-service payments would change from FFY 2024 to FFY 2025 based on the policies set forth in the...
Major Milestone Reached to Improve Care for Medi-Cal Patients
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
Last week, the Coalition to Protect Access to Care — of which CHA is a founding member — announced that it has submitted enough signatures to qualify a key initiative for the November 2024 statewide ballot.
Changes Proposed to Risk Adjustment for Medicare Advantage Capitation Rates
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued part one of its annual advance notice of Methodological Changes for Medicare Advantage Capitation Rates and Part D Payment Policies in late December. The advance notice is being issued in two parts this year due to requirements of the 21st Century Cures Act, which mandated certain changes to the Part C risk adjustment model and a 60-day comment period for the changes.
For 2019, CMS proposes to include additional mental health, substance use disorder and chronic kidney disease conditions in the risk adjustment model for payment. The new risk adjustment model would be phased in using a blend of 25 percent of the proposed new risk adjustment model and 75 percent of the current risk adjustment model beginning in 2019. Comments on the advance notice are due by March 2.
CMS Finalizes Cuts to 340B Program in Calendar Year 2018 OPPS Final Rule
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
Late yesterday, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued the attached final rule updating the outpatient prospective payment system (OPPS) for calendar year 2018. CHA is extremely disappointed that CMS finalized its proposal to significantly cut Medicare payments to hospitals for drugs that are acquired under the 340B Drug Pricing Program. Specifically, CMS will pay separately payable, non pass-through drugs (other than vaccines) purchased through the 340B program at a rate of the average sales price minus 22.5 percent, rather than average sales price plus 6 percent. In a change from the proposed rule, CMS will exclude sole community hospitals in rural areas, prospective payment system-exempt cancer hospitals and children’s hospitals from this policy for calendar year 2018. Critical access hospitals are not subject to the OPPS, so they are not impacted by this policy.
CHA will work collaboratively with state and national hospital associations in a coordinated effort to reverse the policy. However, without additional legislative or administrative action, the policy will take effect Jan. 1, 2018, threatening access to care for our most vulnerable patients.
Digital Campaign Shines Light on Insurance Company Misconduct
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
What’s happening: This week, CHA launched a comprehensive digital and social media campaign drawing attention to insurance companies that prioritize profits over patient care.
What else to know: The campaign is targeted at Sacramento policymakers and complements CHA’s broader work to hold insurance companies accountable for their obligations to patients.
CHA Will Host Webinar on Mandatory Bundled Payment Model
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
What’s happening: CHA will host a complimentary, members-only webinar on May 1 at noon (PT) to discuss the mandatory bundled payment model proposed by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Registration is open. What else to know: CMS proposed the Transforming Episode Accountability Model (TEAM), which will hold selected hospitals accountable for the...
Ballot Initiative Would Dedicate MCO Tax Revenue to Fund Medi-Cal
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
What’s happening: The Coalition to Protect Access to Care has submitted more than 800,000 voter signatures to qualify the Protect Access to Healthcare initiative for California’s November 2024 ballot. What else to know: CHA supports the proposed ballot measure, which would permanently channel managed care organization (MCO) tax revenue to Medi-Cal providers such as hospitals,...
CMS Finalizes Medicaid Managed Care Rule on Access, Finance, and Quality
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
What’s happening: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized the Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program Managed Care Access, Finance, and Quality rule.
What else to know: The rule finalizes significant changes and clarifications regarding managed care delivery and finance.
Hospital Leaders Discuss Financial Challenges with Legislators on Capitol Hill
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
What’s happening: Last week, California hospital and health system leaders convened in Washington, D.C. for the American Hospital Association (AHA) Annual Membership Meeting.
What else to know: Hospital and health system leaders participated in meetings on Capitol Hill with the California congressional delegation to advance CHA’s position on key advocacy priorities.
CMS Finalizes Skilled-Nursing Facility Staffing Standards
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
What’s happening: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a final rule establishing new staffing standards for long-term care facilities, including skilled-nursing facilities (SNFs) and SNFs operated as distinct-part units of acute care hospitals.
What else to know: The regulations are effective June 21. Compliance with overall ratios is required beginning May 2026.
