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 15
Summary: Finalized Provider Financial Penalties for Information Blocking
What’s happening: A members-only summary, prepared by Health Policy Alternatives, Inc., of the finalized provider disincentives for information blocking is available.
What else to know: The rule is effective July 31.
CMS Proposal Seeks to Mitigate Abnormal DME Billing in Medicare Shared Services Program
What’s happening: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a proposed rule on abnormal billing activity within the Medicare Shared Savings Program.
What else to know: The proposed rule seeks to mitigate the impact of the billing activity on reconciliation of accountable care organization (ACO) payments in calendar year (CY) 2023.
CMS Accepting Grant Applications for Model to Improve Maternal Health
What’s happening: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has opened the application period for the Transforming Maternal Health (TMaH) Model aimed at improving maternal health.
What else to know: Applications are due Sept. 20.
CHA to Host Webinar on Preparing for Extreme Heat and Smoke Impact in Clinical Settings
What’s happening: CHA will host the members-only Preparing for Extreme Heat and Smoke Impact in Clinical Settings webinar on Aug. 19 at 1 p.m. (PT).
What else to know: The webinar addresses heat-related emergency response plans and protocols and leads into the 2024 Disaster Planning Conference on Sept. 10-11. Registration is open.
CMS Proposes Reducing Medicare Payments to Physicians
What’s happening: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued its calendar year (CY) 2025 physician fee schedule (PFS) proposed rule.
What else to know: The proposed CY 2025 PFS conversion factor is $32.36, a decrease of $0.93, or 2.8%, from CY 2024.
Hospitals Eligible to Receive Free Naloxone from DHCS
What’s happening: In 2018, the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) established the Naloxone Distribution Project (NDP) to distribute naloxone — also referred to as “Narcan” — and fentanyl testing strips to key stakeholders free of charge.
What else to know: Hospital emergency departments are among those who can apply online to receive free naloxone and testing strips. Since the program’s inception, hospitals have received 332,000 naloxone testing kits and 188,000 fentanyl testing kits.
HQI Quality Quarterly Highlights Data-Driven Patient Safety Strategies
What’s happening: The July edition of Quality Quarterly explores why effective patient safety strategies are grounded in the timely collection and analysis of data and examines the rise in sepsis mortality rates in hospitals.
What else to know: Quality Quarterly is intended to support the work of patient safety professionals by providing information on clinical developments, new technologies, and peer learning opportunities.
CHA Webinar Will Provide Seismic Legislation Updates
What’s happening: CHA will host a members-only webinar to provide seismic legislation updates on July 24 at 9 a.m. (PT).
What else to know: The webinar will provide the latest information on Senate Bill (SB) 1432, CHA’s sponsored seismic relief legislation, as it continues to move through the Legislature and was recently voted out of the Assembly Health Committee with a 14-0 vote.
CHA Comments on DMHC Network Adequacy Standards
What’s happening: CHA continues its work to hold insurance companies accountable for providing timely, comprehensive patient care. Last week, CHA submitted a letter to the Department of Managed Health Care urging it to expand network adequacy standards to reflect patients’ current health care needs and hold plans accountable for making those life-changing, lifesaving services available. […]