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
Major Revamp Ahead for California’s Mental Health System Following Passage of Proposition 1
What’s happening: The ballot measure will restructure the state’s mental health system, directing billions of dollars to build mental health treatment facilities and housing for homeless individuals. What else to know: CHA strongly supported the measure which voters approved by a razor slim margin, 50.2% to 49.8%. The final vote count came on March 20. […]
Hospital Leaders Discuss Insurers’ Harmful Practices with Health Secretary
What’s happening: On March 20, CHA convened a small group of hospital leaders for an in-depth discussion in southern California — led by CHA President & CEO Carmela Coyle — with state Health Secretary Mark Ghaly, MD, MPH. In the meeting, they had the opportunity to share perspectives on how harmful insurance practices are impeding patient care and threatening hospitals’ ability to provide care. This is part of CHA’s focus on holding insurance companies operating in California accountable for protecting patients and the providers who care for them.
What else to know: Hospital leaders attending the meeting were: Laureen Driscoll, division chief executive, Providence South Division, Providence; Lori Morgan, MD, MBA, President & CEO, Huntington Health, Roger Sharma, President & CEO, Emanate; Julie Sprengel, California division president, CommonSpirit Health; and Doug Sturnick, senior vice president, Managed Care and Payer Relations, Cedars-Sinai. Joining by phone were the Health and Human Services assistant secretary and heads of the Department of Health Care Services and Department of Managed Health Care.
CHA to Host Change Cyberattack Hospital Impacts Webinar
What’s happening: CHA will host the Change Cyberattack Hospital Impacts Webinar on March 27 at 1 p.m. (PT).
What else to know: This complimentary, members-only webinar will discuss the steps CHA and the American Hospital Association (AHA) are taking to advocate for impacted hospitals and minimize the fallout. Registration is open.
Change Healthcare Cyberattack Raises Privacy Breach Implications
What’s happening: CHA has analyzed public information to help hospitals better understand privacy implications stemming from the Change Healthcare cyberattack in late February.
What else to know: The cyberattack raises the question of whether affected hospitals must report a breach to patients or to government officials under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) or state breach reporting laws.
Updates for the Week of March 18
Tyler Sadwith Appointed as DHCS State Medicaid Director
What’s happening: On March 13, Gov. Newsom announced the appointment of Tyler Sadwith as state Medicaid director at the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS), effective March 25.
What else to know: Sadwith has held leadership positions at DHCS since July 2021, most recently serving as deputy director for behavioral health since June 2022.
Providers Must Register for New Medi-Cal Portal by April 11
What’s happening: The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) will be decommissioning the legacy portal for presumptive eligibility (PE) enrollment and replacing it with the new Medi-Cal Provider Portal.
What else to know: Providers who currently use the legacy Medi-Cal Transaction Services Portal must register for the new Medi-Cal Provider Portal by April 11. Failure to register will result in losing access to the PE applications.
DHCS Issues Memo to Medi-Cal Managed Care Health Plans on Change Healthcare Cyberattack
What’s happening: On March 13, the Department of Health Care Services issued a memo to its contracted Medi-Cal managed care plans (MCPs) related to flexibilities to ensure delivery system stability following the Change Healthcare cyberattack.
What else to know: The memo reminds MCPs of their claims payment contractual responsibilities, including oversight of their delegated entities, and strongly encourages MCPs to take steps to support the provider community.
CMS Approves the Calendar Year 2023 Private Hospital Directed Payment Preprint
What’s happening: On March 18, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) approved the calendar year 2023 private hospital directed payment (PHDP) preprint for the rating period from Jan. 1, 2023, to Dec. 31, 2023.
What else to know: A copy of the federal approval letter is available on CHA’s Hospital Fee Program web page under Program 8.