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
Prop 35 Passage Kickstarts Work to Develop, Implement Methodologies to Distribute Funding
What’s happening: On Nov. 5, California voters overwhelmingly approved Proposition (Prop) 35, making an existing tax on managed care organizations (MCO) permanent under state law — and directing most of the revenues toward expanding access to care for Medi-Cal patients through improved provider reimbursement. Now, work by the state, hospitals, and others to determine how these funds should be distributed begins.
What else to know: While Prop 35 specifies how much funding shall go to several different service categories, it does not set the methodologies for distributing the funds. The ball is now in the Department of Health Care Services’ court to develop these payment methodologies — in consultation with hospitals and other providers, including through a dedicated stakeholder advisory committee.
The Time to Act on Medi-Cal Funding Is Now
Earlier this week, CHA joined a coalition of hospital associations in California in sending a letter to Gov. Gavin Newsom seeking expedited submission of proposed reimbursement programs that require federal approval.
CMS Initiates Collection of SNF Ownership Information
What’s happening: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has begun notifying skilled-nursing facilities (SNFs) of new requirements to report detailed information about ownership and management.
What else to know: SNFs must disclose this information on the updated Medicare Enrollment Application (CMS-855A) form attachment, for which CMS has provided additional guidance. Over the next few months, CMS will give all SNFs, including hospital-based SNFs, direction on submitting a revalidation application with the information.
CMS Reduces Medicare Payments to Physicians in Final Rule
What’s happening: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued its calendar year (CY) 2025 Medicare physician fee schedule (PFS) final rule, in which the final CY 2025 PFS conversion factor is $32.35 — a decrease of 2.8% from CY 2024.
What else to know: CMS published a fact sheet on the CY 2025 Medicare PFS that shares the rate setting and conversion factor, and much more.
Prop 35 Passage Means Historic Investment in Medi-Cal
California voters earlier this week overwhelmingly passed Proposition 35, a once-in-a-generation investment in the state’s Medi-Cal program and a permanent commitment to the vulnerable Californians who rely on it for health coverage.
CMS Finalizes Medicare Payments for Home Health, Dialysis Services
What’s happening: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued final rules for the calendar year 2025 home health prospective payment system (PPS) and end-stage renal disease PPS.
What else to know: CMS estimates a 0.5% increase in payments for home health agencies and dialysis providers treating end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients will see an increase of 2.7%.
CMS Finalizes Inadequate Outpatient Payment Update, Establishes New Conditions of Participation
What’s happening: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued its calendar year (CY) 2025 outpatient prospective payment system (OPPS) final rule, including a net market basket update of 2.9%.
What else to know: CMS also establishes new health and safety standards for obstetrical services to be phased in over two years.
California Health Care Foundation Publishes Playbook for Complex Discharges
What’s happening: The California Health Care Foundation’s new playbook shares actionable recommendations to help leadership and frontline staff effectively coordinate, collaborate, and partner on managing the discharge of patients who remain in hospitals for extended stays.
What else to know: Using four vignettes of fictional patients with complex needs who are awaiting discharge, the playbook demonstrates how Medi-Cal benefits and services can be used to “facilitate a person-centered discharge.”
CMS Delays Start Date for Proposed Payment Model to Expand Kidney Transplant Access
What’s happening: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) anticipates it will delay the proposed Increasing Organ Transplant Access (IOTA) Model start date until after Jan. 1, 2025.
What else to know: CMS anticipates a start date delay because it is still working to finalize the rule; the agency has not yet shared a new start date.
CMS Guidance Clarifies Hospital Respiratory Illness Data Reporting Requirements Effective Nov. 1
What’s happening: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued guidance to hospitals and state surveyors that underscores the importance of following reporting requirements for new hospital respiratory illness data reporting conditions of participation (CoP).
What else to know: CMS also clarifies in the guidance that psychiatric hospitals and rehabilitation hospitals will report their daily COVID-19, influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus data annually rather than weekly.
