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
HHS Proposes Updates to HIPAA Security Rule
What’s happening: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) proposed revisions to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Security Rule aim to strengthen cybersecurity protections for electronic protected health information (ePHI).
What else to know: Comments on the proposed rule are due by March 7.
Lois Quam Named CEO of Blue Shield of California
What’s happening: On Jan. 8, the Blue Shield Board of Directors announced that, following the departure of Paul Markovich, Lois Quam will become the organization’s first female CEO in its 86-year history.
What else to know: Quam came to Blue Shield of California after serving as CEO of Pathfinder, a nonprofit global health organization serving women and girls.
Gov. Newsom Previews 2024-25 State Budget Proposal Ahead of Jan. 10 Release
What’s happening: In a high-level preview to reporters on Jan. 6, Gov. Gavin Newsom shared that his budget proposal features improved revenue projections, which help to keep the $322 billion spending plan in balance.
What else to know: The preview took place during Newsom’s tour of the Central Valley to promote his economic vision for the state, which includes key themes of government accountability, reducing the cost of living, and keeping California competitive.
Amid Wildfires, Hospital Heroes Once Again
The eyes of California and the nation are fixed on Los Angeles, as the city races to contain devastating wildfires that have already claimed five lives, destroyed more than 2,000 structures, and forced the evacuation of more than 180,000 people.
Federal Funding Will Bolster Medi-Cal Reimbursement for Inpatient Psychiatric Care
What’s happening: On Dec. 16, California was approved for the large BH-CONNECT behavioral health demonstration project, which is estimated to bring $5 billion of new federal Medicaid dollars for California over the next five years.
What else to know: During this time, BH-CONNECT will use the funds to test new approaches to behavioral health treatment, housing, and workforce development.
2025 Rural Health Care Symposium Is Fast Approaching
What’s happening: In just two months, on March 10-11, the 40th Rural Health Care Symposium will take place in Sacramento and will address the most pressing issues facing rural hospitals today.
What else to know: The symposium will cover emerging trends and legislative challenges, updates on the Office of Health Care Affordability and the Hospital Quality Assurance Fee Program, and leveraging data to streamline operations and boost efficiencies, among many other topics.
Timeline Undetermined for Implementation of AB 40 Regulations
What’s happening: Due to state budget constraints, the state Office of Administrative Law (OAL) has not yet approved the Emergency Medical Services Authority’s (EMSA) Assembly Bill (AB) 40 (2023) regulations for public comment.
What else to know: AB 40 passed in 2023 with the intent of improving long ambulance patient offload times (APOTs). Despite the delay on implementation, CHA continues pursuing opportunities to collaborate with health care partners to improve long APOTs, which affect the entire health care delivery system.
Kicking Off 2025
As we start the new year, many new faces will be coming to Sacramento and Washington, D.C. Here in California, some three dozen new legislators have been sworn in and will take state office for the first time. In our nation’s capital, President-elect Trump is preparing to bring a different approach to, and new priorities for, health care policy than that of the Biden administration.
HQI to Host Five-Part Webinar Series on Building a Hospital Safety Culture
What’s happening: The Hospital Quality Institute (HQI) is offering a five-part webinar series to address strategies for increasing patient safety and improving response to patient harm.
What else to know: The series will provide a deep dive into the five domains of HQI’s flagship program, HQI Cares: BETA HEART®, and explore their alignment with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ new Patient Safety Structural Measure.
CMS Responds to Congressional Letter Urging Adequate IRF Access
What’s happening: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Chiquita Brooks-Lasure has responded to a Congressional letter, signed by several members of the California delegation, that urged CMS to take steps that will ensure Medicare Advantage (MA) plan beneficiaries have access to medically necessary inpatient rehabilitation facility (IRF) care.
What else to know: In the letter, Ms. Brooks-Lasure notes several recent rules issued by CMS that seek to ensure that MA plans adhere to CMS requirements, including network adequacy, prior authorization, and data collection. Ms. Brooks-Lasure also agrees to take the writers’ comments into consideration for future policy development.
