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 Urges Department of Managed Health Care to Clarify Exceptions to New Licensing Requirements
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
Yesterday, CHA submitted comments on the Department of Managed Health Care’s (DMHC) draft guidance implementing its recently finalized Knox-Keene licensure regulation. The regulation greatly expands the types of financial arrangements requiring a license, and hospitals are encouraged to consult with counsel to determine how the new requirements will impact their organization.
CHA Issues Summary of FFY 2020 Inpatient Psychiatric Facility PPS Proposed Rule
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
CHA has issued a summary of the federal fiscal year 2020 inpatient psychiatric facility (IPF) prospective payment system proposed rule. The summary describes payment, policy, and quality proposals under the IPF Quality Reporting Program. Comments on the proposed rule are due June 17.
Members Should Review CHA DataSuite Reports for Medicare Hospital Wage Index, Occupational Mix by May 30
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
CHA has provided member hospitals and health systems with revised reports on Medicare hospital wage index and occupational mix data analysis. The analyses are intended to provide a comparative review of the wage and occupational mix data that will be used to develop the federal fiscal year (FFY) 2020 Medicare hospital wage index.
More Than 300 Members of Congress Sign Bipartisan Letter Urging Delay of Medicaid DSH Cuts
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A total of 302 members of Congress signed on to a bipartisan House letter urging Congress to delay cuts to Medicaid disproportionate share hospitals for at least two years. An overwhelming majority — 48 of 53 — of members of the California delegation cosigned the letter. CHA strongly supports this bipartisan effort and thanks members for their engagement on this critical issue.
CHA Applauds Court Decision to Move Forward With Implementation of New Liver Allocation Policy
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
A federal judge has denied a motion to delay implementation of the Acuity Circle Model, the new liver transplantation allocation policy approved by the Organ Procurement and Transplant Network (OPTN) in December 2018. OPTN launched the new liver distribution system on May 14. CHA has long supported this important policy.
White House Considers Mandatory Rate Disclosure
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
The Trump administration is considering mandating insurers to disclose their negotiated rates for hospital services. This follows a proposal earlier this year that would require hospitals and physicians to inform patients of the full cost of care prior to care being administered.
Draft Federal Legislation Addresses Surprise Billing
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
The Chair and Ranking Member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Reps. Pallone (D-NJ) and Walden (R-OR), released draft legislation to address the issue of surprise billing and asked stakeholders to submit comments by May 28. CHA sent a letter to the California congressional delegation outlining our priorities.
CDPH Changes Approval Process for Sterile Compounding Physical Plant Construction Projects
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) earlier this week released All Facilities Letter 19-19, which updates its application process for new or remodeled pharmacy clean rooms and mobile sterile compounding units (MSCUs). Notably, CDPH will no longer accept incomplete applications for pharmacy clean rooms or MSCUs. CDPH states the update is in response to Assembly Bill 2978 (Chapter 992, Statutes of 2018), which requires CDPH to review or deny applications within 100 days of receipt.
Counties Approved to Deliver Drug Medi-Cal Organized Delivery System Services
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As of April 1, 26 counties were approved to deliver Drug Medi-Cal Organized Delivery System (DMC-ODS) services, representing nearly 88 percent of the Medi-Cal population statewide. Fourteen additional counties are in various phases of implementation.
Federal Court Stops 340B Medicare Rate Cuts for Hospitals
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
Last week, a federal district court ruled that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) exceeded its statutory authority when it implemented a 30% reduction to 2019 Medicare reimbursement rates — included in the federal fiscal year (FFY) 2019 outpatient prospective payment system (OPPS) final rule — for certain pharmaceutical drugs covered by the 340B Drug Pricing Program.
