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
YES on 35!
Last week, California’s Secretary of State officially designated Proposition (Prop) 35 as the title for the “Protect Our Health Care” initiative, a CHA-sponsored ballot measure to strengthen Medi-Cal.
Hospital Fee Program Invoices Due July 24
What’s happening: Invoices for the 2023-24 Hospital Fee Program, fee-for-service cycle 4, were mailed on June 24.
What else to know: Payments to the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) are due on July 24.
DHCS Announces Upcoming Supplemental Payment Dates
What’s happening: The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) has announced it will make disproportionate share hospital (DSH) payments on July 15.
What else to know: The payments will have a warrant date of July 11.
PAGA Overhaul Means Reduced Fines for Employers, Greater Opportunity to Correct Mistakes
What’s happening: Earlier this month, Gov. Newsom and legislative leadership announced sweeping changes to the Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) intended to disincentivize costly lawsuits while protecting employees’ ability to bring claims against employers that violate the law.
What else to know: These changes are included in Assembly Bill 2288 (Kalra, D-San Jose) and Senate Bill 92 (Umberg, D-Santa Ana), which were passed by the Legislature in late June and signed by the governor on July 1. They will apply to lawsuits brought on or after June 19.
Office of Inspector General to Examine Medicare Advantage Use of Prior Authorization for Post-Acute Care
What’s happening: The U.S. Health and Human Services Agency has announced that the Office of Inspector General (OIG) will investigate the use of prior authorization for post-acute care services by Medicare Advantage (MA) plans.
What else to know: CHA members have reported that they encounter significant challenges in obtaining authorizations from MA plans for access to the most appropriate level of post-acute care (PAC).
DMHC Provides Additional Guidance Regarding Post-Stabilization Care Requests
What’s happening: The Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC) has issued All Plan Letter (APL) 24-012, which reminds plans that they may not require a hospital to make more than one telephone call to request authorization to provide post-stabilization care to plan members.
What else to know: The APL reiterates the requirements of Health & Safety Code 1371.4, which states that plans must provide hospitals with one telephone number to serve as the point of contact for 24-hour access for post-stabilization authorization requests. Plans may not require a hospital to contact the plan in any way other than the plan’s designated phone number.
Creators of the Vitality Index Payer Scorecard Announce Partnership with HFMA
What’s happening: Hyve Health, the creator of the CHA-endorsed Vitality Index Payer Scorecard, has entered into a national partnership on payer accountability with the Healthcare Financial Management Association.
What else to know: CHA continues to encourage members to enroll in the scorecard tool, which will provide critical information to support CHA’s advocacy to hold insurers accountable for timely and accurate reimbursement.
Congress Reintroduces Legislation to Streamline Prior Authorization
What’s happening: Congressional leaders have reintroduced bipartisan legislation to address concerns regarding prior authorization (PA) and timely access to care for beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare Advantage (MA) plans.
What else to know: The Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act would establish an electronic PA standard, reduce the amount of time a health plan is allowed to consider a PA request, and require MA plans to report on their use of PA, including rates of approvals and denials.
CMS Issues Guidance on New Staffing Requirements
What’s happening: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued updated guidance to state survey agencies and providers regarding facility assessment requirements for long-term care facilities.
What else to know: The revised guidance updates the survey and assessment process as implemented under the Minimum Staffing Standards for Long-Term Care Facilities and Medicaid Institutional Payment Transparency Reporting final rule.
HQI Releases CHPSO Annual Report
What’s happening: The Hospital Quality Institute (HQI) has released its CHPSO Annual Report, an overview of the most significant work done on behalf of hospitals in 2023.
What else to know: HQI is dedicated to improving the quality and safety of patient care in hospitals and health care systems and oversees the Collaborative Health Care Patient Safety Organization (CHPSO). The focus of CHPSO is on improving patient safety and quality of care by collecting, analyzing, and sharing data on adverse events and near misses in health care.
