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
Summary: FFY 2025 Inpatient Psychiatric Facility Medicare Payment Proposed Rule
What’s happening: A summary of the inpatient psychiatric facility (IPF) prospective payment system (PPS) proposed rule is available.
What else to know: Comments on the proposed rule are due by May 28.
Environmental Protection Agency Releases Final Rule to Reduce Ethylene Oxide Emissions by 90%
What’s happening: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a final rule limiting carcinogen ethylene oxide (EtO) emissions for commercial medical device sterilization facilities. According to EPA, the new rule will lower the cancer risk in local communities to below the benchmark safety threshold.
What else to know: Hospitals and medical device suppliers have raised concerns that the updated regulations could cause a supply chain disruption for certain medical devices because many medical devices are sterilized with EtO. The new rule addresses these concerns while maintaining the goal of overall reduction of EtO emissions by 90%.
CHA Will Host Webinar on Mandatory Bundled Payment Model
What’s happening: CHA will host a complimentary, members-only webinar on May 1 at noon (PT) to discuss the mandatory bundled payment model proposed by Medicare. Registration is open.
What else to know: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services proposed the Transforming Episode Accountability Model (TEAM), which will hold selected hospitals accountable for the cost and quality of certain surgical procedures.
CMS Finalizes Skilled-Nursing Facility Staffing Standards
What’s happening: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a final rule establishing new staffing standards for long-term care facilities, including skilled-nursing facilities (SNFs) and SNFs operated as distinct-part units of acute care hospitals.
What else to know: The regulations are effective June 21. Compliance with overall ratios is required beginning May 2026.
CHA DataSuite Releases FFY 2025 Medicare Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility Proposed Rule Analysis
What’s happening: CHA DataSuite issued a hospital-specific analysis of the federal fiscal year (FFY) 2025 Medicare inpatient rehabilitation facility proposed rule analysis.
What else to know: The analysis is intended to show hospitals how Medicare fee-for-service payments would change from FFY 2024 to FFY 2025 based on the policies set forth in the proposed rule.
340B Dispute Resolution Process Finalized
What’s happening: The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) finalized requirements and procedures for the 340B Drug Discount Program’s administrative dispute resolution (ADR) process.
What else to know: The regulation is effective June 18.
Hospital Leaders Discuss Financial Challenges with Legislators on Capitol Hill
What’s happening: Last week, California hospital and health system leaders convened in Washington, D.C. for the American Hospital Association (AHA) Annual Membership Meeting.
What else to know: Hospital and health system leaders participated in meetings on Capitol Hill with the California congressional delegation to advance CHA’s position on key advocacy priorities.
Hospital Volunteers Represent the Very Best of All of Us
“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” — Gandhi
CHA Aims Critical Access Hospital Social Media Campaign at Lawmakers
What’s happening: This week, CHA launched a social media campaign highlighting the challenges rural hospitals – particularly critical access hospitals – face and urging lawmakers to act so that rural health care is preserved.
What else to know: The campaign is intended to cultivate support for Senate Bill (SB) 1423 (Dahle, R-Bieber), which would provide additional financial help for California’s critical access hospitals (a concurrent budget effort is underway). CHA-sponsored SB 1423 will be heard in the Senate Health Committee on April 24.
CHA Issues Alert Ahead of OHCA Hearing
Earlier this week, CHA issued an alert urging members to testify at next week’s Office of Health Care Affordability (OHCA) board meeting. With the board’s final decision on a spending target expected at either the April 24 or May 22 board meeting, it is crucial that hospital voices continue to be heard. The board is […]
