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 Takes Steps to Increase Conscience Protections for Health Care Workers
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently established the Conscience and Religious Freedom Division in its Office for Civil Rights to enforce existing federal conscience and religious protections.
In addition, HHS issued the attached proposed rule that would protect health care workers who refuse to participate in services — such as abortion, sterilization and assisted suicide — that run counter to their religious beliefs or moral convictions. This proposed rule is similar to regulations released by the Bush Administration in 2008 and rescinded in 2011 by the Obama Administration. The new proposed rule appears to both reinstate the 2008 rule and incorporate several additional federal conscience-related protections. It would apply to all entities that receive funds through programs funded or administered in whole or part by HHS, including the Medicare and Medicaid programs. The new Conscience and Religious Freedom Division will execute and enforce the proposed regulation as finalized.
CHA is currently reviewing the proposed rule’s details and the challenges it may pose for hospital operations, as well as the implications, if any, of potential conflict between the proposed rule and existing California law.
Flu Advisory Reminds Providers of Local, State Reporting
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has issued the attached advisory related to increased influenza activity. CDPH directs clinicians to national recommendations for testing and treatment of influenza. In addition, the department recommends influenza immunizations for all persons six months or older who have not yet received influenza vaccine this season. Even if the vaccine effectiveness is limited, immunization can reduce illness, hospitalization and even death related to influenza.
CHA Issues Talking Points on Health Care Concerns in State Budget Proposal
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
Although the 2018-19 state budget proposal released by Gov. Brown earlier this week contains good news for Californians, including health care providers, it does include some proposals of concern to California hospitals. To assist hospitals in responding to inquiries about these key issues, CHA has developed the attached talking points. As reported in yesterday’s CHA News, the budget proposal contains a $40 million decrease to the University of California’s core budget, negating the system’s $40 million allocation from Proposition 56 — the Healthcare, Research and Prevention Tobacco Tax Act of 2016 — to fund graduate medical education. A similar scenario, totaling $50 million, transpired in last year’s state budget; for the second time in two years, CHA vigorously opposes this action.
In addition to providing detail on the University of California funding issue, the talking points address the proposed restriction of the use of the federal 340B Drug Pricing Program and creation of a supplemental health facility fee structure for Los Angeles County.
CHA Issues Talking Points on 2018 Flu Season
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
The sudden escalation of flu cases throughout California and across the nation has caught the attention of hospitals, clinicians, public health experts and the media. A seasonal illness that typically occurs in the U.S. between October and May, the flu generally peaks in February. This year, however, the outbreak seems to be peaking earlier, and California is experiencing a particularly bad flu year.
Many hospitals across the state are seeing a substantial increase in emergency department volume and inpatient admissions. To help hospitals address inquiries about the flu outbreak, CHA has prepared the attached talking points.
Discount Deadline Extended for Post-Acute Care Conference
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
The discount deadline for this year’s annual Post-Acute Care Conference, to be held Feb. 15-16 in Redondo Beach, has been extended to Jan. 26. The program, which explores the theme The Power of Our Story — Communicating the Value of Post-Acute Care, will help post-acute care providers identify and express the value of services in medical rehabilitation, long-term acute care, distinct-part skilled-nursing and home health arenas. This year’s event will open with keynote speaker Shalyn Eyer, who will describe how storytelling can be used as a leadership tool to strengthen relationships, reshape culture and spark action for change. To hear more, watch the video below.
Other sessions will address developing high-performing networks; a patient-centered and value-based approach to discharge planning; and the latest updates on post-acute policy. Anyone interested in the continuum of care and committed to helping patients achieve maximum health and independence should attend. For more information or to register, visit www.calhospital.org/post-acute-care-conference.
President Obama Signs ‘Doc Fix’ Legislation
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
President Obama signed into law today a six-month "fix" to rates paid to physicians and non-physician practitioners under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS), thereby reversing the automatic 21 percent cut that applied to MPFS claims beginning June 1.
CDPH Announces New Infection Prevention Staff
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has received funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, allowing for an opportunity to accelerate healthcare-associated infection (HAI) prevention efforts.
Governor Releases 2018-19 State Budget
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
Today Gov. Brown, in his final year as Governor, released his state budget plan, totaling $190 billion for fiscal year 2018-19. As he has in the past, the Governor emphasized fiscal prudence even though the state is projected to have a healthy one-time surplus. He noted that California continues to face uncertain times, including ramifications of the recently enacted federal tax bill, which has not yet been factored into this year’s budget. Today’s budget continues to build the state’s Rainy Day Fund and keep spending in line with revenues.
Key issues of concern CHA has identified in the budget include:
A proposal by the Department of Health Care Services to restrict federal 340B Drug Pricing Program reimbursements within the Medi-Cal program, effective July 1, 2019. As described in the budget summary, the proposal allows the state to comply with existing federal requirements, helps protect program integrity, prevents unnecessary overpayments, collects additional drug rebates, and reduces the time and resources expended to resolve drug rebate disputes related to 340B claims. CHA will learn more details about this proposal and work closely with the Department of Health Care Services and other stakeholders to mitigate impact on hospitals that participate in the 340B program.
State Proposes to Cut Funding for Residencies
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
CHA learned late yesterday that the 2018-19 budget released by Gov. Brown contains an additional issue of great concern to many hospitals — a $40 million decrease in the University of California’s core budget. Under Proposition 56 — the Healthcare, Research and Prevention Tobacco Tax Act of 2016 — the University of California system was allocated $40 million specifically to fund graduate medical education; this reduction erases the additional funding.
Proposition 56 increased taxes on tobacco products, directing $40 million of new revenue annually to the University of California system to develop and implement a program to increase the number of primary care and emergency physicians trained in the state. All accredited residency programs in California that meet the guidelines set forth in Proposition 56 are eligible to receive funding. However, in last year’s state budget, this source of funding for graduate medical education was characterized as revenue for the University of California. As a result, the state budget reduced the University of California’s budget by the same amount. This year’s budget once again cuts the University of California budget by $40 million, compromising Proposition 56’s intent and provisions that the system serve as the public entity responsible for administering this new program. To achieve the public benefit intended by Proposition 56, it is critical that funding for the University of California be restored in this year’s budget. CHA is strongly opposed to this budget action and will work vigorously to oppose the reduction.
OSHPD Takes Steps to Address Project Delays
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
Due to the mandated state furloughs and hiring freezes, the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (OSHPD) has once again been experiencing delays in plan review and area compliance activities. OSHPD expects the delays will be minimized when the furloughs end in July. In the meantime, OSHPD has announced two steps, effective this week, to assist in minimizing project delays.
