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
Updates for the Week of July 25
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services issued the following updates this week:
DHCS Delays First Wave of Medi-Cal Rx Prior Authorization Reinstatement to Sept. 16
On July 26, the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) and its Medi-Cal Rx contractor Magellan announced a delay in the first wave of reinstatement of prior authorizations for new start medications in 11 therapeutic drug classes from late August to Sept. 16.
CHA DataSuite Releases Analysis of CY 2023 Medicare Home Health PPS Proposed Rule
CHA DataSuite has issued a hospital-specific analysis of the calendar year (CY) 2023 Medicare home health (HH) prospective payment system (PPS) proposed rule.
HHS Issues Proposed Rule on Nondiscrimination Protections in Health Care
The Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) has issued a proposed rule implementing the nondiscrimination provision of Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, and disability in certain health programs and activities. California law is generally in line with the proposed...
Congress Urges CMS to Fix Inpatient Payment Proposal
A bipartisan group of representatives and senators signed letters to Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure urging the agency to revise the inadequate inpatient payment proposal for federal fiscal year 2023 to more accurately reflect the cost of providing hospital care to patients and communities.
CMS Issues Final FFY 2023 Inpatient Rehabilitation, Psychiatric PPS, and Hospice Wage Index Rules
On July 27, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued final rules updating the Medicare payment policies and rates for inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRFs), inpatient psychiatric facilities (IPFs), and hospice facilities for federal fiscal year (FFY) 2023. These regulations are effective Oct. 1.
Retention Payment Update: CHA Publishes Provisional FAQs
On July 22, the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) officially announced that the clock for the Retention Payment Program will begin on July 30 and run until Oct. 28.
Retention Payment Update: The Clock Starts July 30
On July 22, the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) officially announced that the clock for the retention payment program will begin on July 30 and run until Oct. 28.
Innovative Wellness Program Shows Employees They’re Valued
When workers at Mayers Memorial Healthcare District in the Shasta County town of Fall River Mills became overwhelmed by the pandemic, the hospital launched an innovative program and hired a wellness coordinator to assess and tend to the needs of other staff. Learn more about the role of the wellness coordinator, whose goal is to...
CHA Provides Resources to Support Hospitals’ FEMA Applications
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is requiring hospitals to offset reimbursement requests for qualified COVID-19 expenses for any third-party claims payment for health care services. However, the agency has not offered any detailed guidance on how any patient care-related revenue should be offset, and is relying on hospitals to provide a methodology.
