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
State Announces New Testing and PPE Requirements for Unvaccinated Health Care Workers
Today, Gov. Newsom announced new measures to encourage state workers and health care workers to be vaccinated for COVID-19. This includes a new state public health officer order that requires health care and congregate settings, including hospitals, to ensure that unvaccinated personnel undergo at least weekly COVID-19 testing and wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE). Amid increasing numbers of COVID-19 cases nationally and in California, these additional steps beyond the infection control practices hospitals have in place will provide another layer of protection for health care workers and patients.
Grants Available to Address Health Care Worker Burnout, Strengthen Resiliency
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has announced the availability of $103 million in grants over a three-year period to reduce burnout and promote mental health among the health care workforce.
Deadline for SNF Interdisciplinary Team Patient Representative Requirement Approaches
The July 28 deadline for implementation of the skilled-nursing facility (SNF)
interdisciplinary team patient representative requirement is quickly approaching.
CDPH Updates Recommendations for Care in SNFs During COVID-19
The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has issued an updated All Facilities Letter (AFL) 20-74.1 on COVID-19 recommendations for personal protective equipment, resident placement/movement, and staffing in skilled-nursing facilities (SNFs).
CDPH Issues All Facilities Letters for Hospitals Related to COVID-19
In case you missed them, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) recently released two All Facilities Letters (AFLs) for hospitals related to COVID-19.
DHCS Issues Hospital Fee July-December 2019 Directed Payment Invoices
On July 23, the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) released Hospital Fee Program payment schedules associated with the Bridge Period Directed Payment (Phase 1).
New Hospital Reporting to Inform COVID-19 Breakthrough Cases to Begin July 27
The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has announced in All Facilities Letter (AFL) 21-25 that it will require general acute care hospitals to report specified patient level discharge information for each hospitalized person who tests positive for COVID-19. The purpose of this is to enable CDPH to better understand breakthrough COVID-19 cases.
Updates for the Week of July 19
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services issued the following updates this week:
- Medicare Promoting Interoperability Program Hardship Exception Application for Eligible Hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals for PY 2020 is Now Available
- COVID-19: EUA for Tocilizumab Monoclonal Antibody Product
- Payment Advisory: Request for Current Billing Information for Qualifying APM Participants
HRSA Awards Funds to Rural Health Clinics for COVID-19 Vaccine Outreach
The Health Services & Resources Administration (HRSA) will administer $98 million in grant awards to eligible rural health clinics (RHCs) through its RHC Vaccine Confidence Program.
CMS Issues CY 2022 Outpatient Prospective Payment System Proposed Rule
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued its calendar year (CY) 2022 outpatient prospective payment system (OPPS) proposed rule on July 19. CMS estimates that Medicare expenditures under OPPS will increase by $1.35 billion based on changes in the proposed rule. Comments on the rule are due by 2 p.m. (PT) on Sept. 17.