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
New Law Allows Hospice Providers to Offer Palliative Care to Patients Without Terminal Diagnosis
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
The California Department of Public Health has released All Facilities Letter 18-03, notifying providers that a new law established a pilot program that allows licensed hospice providers to provide palliative care to non-terminally but seriously ill patients. Under Senate Bill 294 (Chapter 31, Statutes of 2017), which took effect Jan. 1, providers must notify the department at least 45 days prior to providing palliative care under the pilot program, and must submit required information. At the end of the pilot period, the department will conduct a stakeholder meeting to discuss the results of the reported information and determine the effectiveness of including hospice providers as a means of expanding palliative care for seriously ill patients. More details, including notice and reporting requirements, are available in the attached letter.
FDA Extends Shelf Life of Certain Intravenous Products
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
Responding to hospitals’ concerns over the continuing shortage of certain intravenous solutions used in clinical care, the Food and Drug Administration yesterday announced that certain products manufactured by Baxter Healthcare Corporation may be used beyond their labeled expiration date. To help ensure patient safety, these products should continue to be stored as labeled. If replacement product becomes available during the extension period, hospitals are expected to replace and properly dispose of the products soon as possible. Health care professionals are instructed to squeeze the bags prior to use to verify they do not have leaks; if leaks are found, the bags should not be used.
Alcohol-Related Emergency Department Visits Increase by Nearly 50 Percent
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
A new study from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) finds that the rate of alcohol-related visits to U.S. emergency departments increased by nearly 50 percent between 2006 and 2014, especially among females and drinkers who are middle-aged or older. The research team assessed trends in emergency visits involving acute and chronic alcohol consumption among individuals 12 and older. The study classified visits by standard diagnostic codes for either alcohol misuse over a short period of time or conditions related to long-term drinking. The 47 percent increase in alcohol-related emergency department visits translates to an average annual increase of 210,000 visits, far outpacing other causes during the years studied. Data show that total annual costs of alcohol-related visits increased from $4.1 billion to $15.3 billion during this time.
The NIAAA also has released a tool to help locate local alcohol treatment programs, based on the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s national database of outpatient, residential and inpatient treatment programs. To learn more about the programs and search the database by zip code, visit the NIAAA website.
Executive Order Seeks to Expand Mental Health Treatment for Veterans
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
Earlier this month, President Trump signed an executive order aimed at supporting veterans’ transition to civilian life. Specifically, the order directs the secretaries of Defense, Homeland Security and Veterans Affairs to develop and submit, within 60 days, a joint action plan to provide transitioning service members “seamless” access to mental health treatment and suicide prevention resources in the year following military service. Within 180 days, the secretaries are required to update the President on the plan’s implementation and outline further reforms to increase veterans’ access to mental health services.
Applications Open for Mental Health Triage Grant Funds
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
The Mental Health Oversight and Accountability Commission is now accepting applications for funding under the Investment in Mental Health Wellness Act of 2013. The grant cycle will run for three fiscal years, with approximately $16 million available per year. The funding is intended to support triage services for adults aged 22 and older, and transition-age youth (ages 16 to 25). Applications are due March 9. For more details, visit the commission’s website.
CHA Webinar Outlines New Physician Reporting Obligations
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
CHA will host a webinar Feb. 13 from 1:30-3 p.m. (PT) featuring representatives from the Medical Board of California, National Practitioner Data Bank and Arent Fox LLP, who will detail new requirements and policy updates that impact physician reporting processes and procedures. California Business & Professions Code Section 805.01 expands the scope of liability for hospital leadership, and recently enacted Senate Bill 798 (Chapter 775, Statutes of 2017) significantly increases — to up to $100,000 per incident — potential fines for failure to report specific physician professional review actions and findings and certain privilege-related actions. Because of these developments, it is critical that hospitals have a solid understanding of their reporting obligations.
Participants will learn how the new law and policy changes affect the reporting process, legal implications for hospitals and their leadership, when reporting is necessary and what can happen if a report is not submitted to the data bank or the medical board.
For more information and to register, visit www.calhospital.org/physician-reporting-web.
CMS to Host Webinar on Physical and Mental Health Integration Strategies
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will host a webinar about Medicaid strategies that promote provider capacity for physical and mental health integration on Feb. 6 at noon (PT).
The webinar will feature Dr. Ben Miller, a national expert in the field. Other speakers from Medicaid agencies in Hawaii and New Hampshire will provide an overview of key components, and discuss strategies and lessons learned. Registration is available online.
New Law Increases Fines for Retaliation Against Whistleblowers
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 18-11, clarifying a new law that increases — from a maximum of $20,000 to a maximum of $75,000 — the fine for a health facility that discriminates or retaliates against a patient, employee or other health care worker for presenting a complaint against or cooperating in an investigation of the facility. This letter supersedes All Facilities Letter 17-28 and clarifies that the new law does not apply to long-term health care facilities.
Cal/OSHA Releases Workplace Violence Prevention FAQs, Annual Report
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
Last week, the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) released frequently asked questions that address some questions raised as health care employers continue to prepare for full implementation of the health care workplace violence prevention regulations beginning April 1. As discussed in previous articles, while some requirements went into effect on April 1, 2017, the majority of the regulations’ requirements take effect April 1, 2018.
The frequently asked questions include information on the regulations’ scope, as well as recording and reporting obligations. CHA has engaged Jeff Tanenbaum, partner at Nixon Peabody, to provide a white paper that includes several issues that not addressed in the FAQs. The white paper should be ready for distribution prior to April 1.
CMS to Hold Low-Volume Appeals Settlement Option Call Feb. 13
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
As previously announced in CHA News, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has created a new settlement option for eligible providers and suppliers with a low volume of pending Medicare Part A and B claim appeals.
CMS will hold a call on the new settlement option on Feb. 13 at 11:30 a.m. (PT). The target audience includes Medicare fee-for-service providers, physicians and other suppliers with fewer than 500 appeals pending at the Office of Medicare Hearings and Appeals and the Medicare Appeals Council. The speakers will provide an overview of the current status, how to identify eligibility, which pending appeals may be settled and more about how the low-volume appeals process works.
A question and answer session will follow the call, but participants are encouraged to submit questions in advance to MedicareSettlementFAQs@cms.hhs.gov with “Low Volume Appeals Settlement February 13 Call” in the subject line. Registration is available online.
