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
OHCA Board Picking Up Pace, Without Deeper Examination
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
The California Office of Health Care Affordability (OHCA) continues to press forward with analyses, investigations, and policies that do not take into full account the impact of their proposals on patient care. Given that, it’s vital that hospitals make certain that the effect on patients and communities is not lost from the conversation.
HQI Virtual Forum Examines Hospital Workplace Violence Insights Gleaned from Statewide and Other Large-Scale Data
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
What’s happening: Individuals leading and supporting hospital efforts to eliminate workplace violence are invited to a virtual forum on the topic held by the Hospital Quality Institute (HQI) on Oct. 24 from noon to 1 p.m. (PT). Registration is open. What else to know: Featured speaker Rachel Odes, PhD, RN, who also is an assistant professor at the...
CMS Finalizes Medicare Observation Appeals Processes
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
What’s happening: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has established appeals processes for Medicare beneficiaries who were admitted as inpatient but whose status changed to outpatient observation during their hospital stay.
What else to know: The appeals processes only apply to patients enrolled in traditional Medicare, not patients enrolled in Medicare Advantage.
CHA Webinar to Discuss Financial Assistance Policies
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What’s happening: Legislation recently signed by the governor — Assembly Bill 2297 and Senate Bill 1061 — requires that California hospitals update their financial assistance policies and submit them to the Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI) by Jan. 1, 2025, or face fines. What else to know: CHA is hosting a...
California Representatives Advocate for Access to IRF Care
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
What’s happening: Several California representatives joined fellow members of Congress in urging the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (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, the authors observe that, by statute,...
HQI Quality Quarterly Spotlights Patient Safety Strategies
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What’s happening: The latest edition of Quality Quarterly explores the prevalence of behavioral health conditions among California hospital encounters, the dangers of menopause misdiagnosis, new patient safety measures outlined by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), and the need for effective reporting of workplace violence incidents by hospital staff. What else to know: More than half...
NHSN Makes Updates to Hospital Respiratory Data Reporting
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What’s happening: The new Hospital Respiratory Data (HRD) module, including both the HRD Daily and HRD Weekly Reporting Pathways, is available in the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) application, effective since Oct. 9. What else to know: Facilities can voluntarily submit HRD prior to the Nov. 1 required reporting date. NHSN recommends that hospitals submit...
Correction Notices Issued for Medicare Payment Final Rules
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What’s happening: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services issued correction notices to the federal fiscal year (FFY) 2025 Medicare payment final rules.
What else to know: The changes are minor, and the inpatient prospective payment system (IPPS) final rule changes are not reflective of the low-wage index interim final rule.
California Reaches $55 Million Settlement Agreement with L.A. Care Health Plan
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What’s happening: On Oct. 8, California Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC) and Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) officials announced they have reached settlement agreements with the largest Medi-Cal plan in the state. What else to know: The two agreements with the Local Initiative Health Authority for Los Angeles County (L.A. Care Health Plan) — a $35...
United Through Crisis
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Crisis has a way of reminding us of our commonalities.
Take, for instance, Hurricane Helene. Though California is far from the storm’s devastation, its effects have rippled all the way to our coast due to the temporary closure of Baxter International’s North Carolina plant, which supplies 60% of the nation’s IV fluids. Hospitals across the country are working to ensure continued patient care despite a shortage of supplies critical to emergency care, trauma, oncology, surgery, and other lifesaving services.
