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
HRSA Begins Releasing American Rescue Plan Rural Provider Relief Payments
On Nov. 23, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) began releasing American Rescue Plan (ARP) rural relief funds to qualifying providers. Applicants receiving payments will receive an email notification and letter with details on their aggregate payment, including individual payment amount(s) for any eligible subsidiary billing taxpayer identification numbers (TINs) included in their application. ARP rural payment recipients must certify that they will allocate the...
CPDH Data Reporting to Require Mandatory Influenza-Related Fields
CDPH Data Reporting to Require Daily Mandatory Influenza-Related Fields For COVID-19 tracker designees The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has updated AFL 20-31.4, which requires hospitals to report COVID-19-related data. In this update, the influenza-related fields that are currently reported daily will become mandatory on Nov. 30. CHA understands hospitals’ concerns about data reporting frequency and will continue to ask for...
CDPH Updates Guidance on Hospital-to-Skilled-Nursing Facility Care Transitions
The California Department of Public Health has issued updated guidance about the admission and readmission of patients and residents to skilled-nursing facilities (SNFs) during seasonal surges and the COVID-19 public health emergency. All Facilities Letter (AFL) 20-87.1 updates previous guidance addressing related SNF policies for testing and quarantine of admissions and re-admissions, including consideration of vaccination status. The...
Updated COVID-19 Surge FAQs & Resources for California Hospitals
Communities with low vaccination rates, waning immunity, and indoor gatherings pose the potential for additional surges of patients with COVID-19 who need hospital care. As hospitals and health systems continue to care for patients during this pandemic, CHA has updated its FAQs and links to help inform the surge response to challenges such as staffing and space. In particular, the...
Reminder: Provider Relief Fund Reporting Grace Period Ends Nov. 30
CHA reminds hospitals that the Provider Relief Fund (PRF) reporting grace period for Reporting Period 1 ends Nov. 30. In September, the Health Resources and Services Administration gave providers who received more than $10,000 in PRF funds between April 30 and June 30, 2020, until Nov. 30, 2021, to comply with the original reporting requirements before recouping the funds or taking...
CMS Provides Resources for Post-Acute Care Assessment and Coding
Several new resources are available for post-acute care providers to assist in their assessment and coding of key patient assessment measures, including self-care and mobility, falls, and pressure ulcers/ injuries.
CHA Issues Summary of Home Health PPS Final Rule
CHA is providing members a summary, prepared by Health Policy Alternatives, Inc., of the home health prospective payment system final rule for calendar year 2022. The provisions of the final rule are effective Jan. 1, 2022.
New ICD-10 Codes for Reporting COVID-19 Therapeutics, Vaccination Status Effective April 1
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will implement three new ICD-10 diagnosis codes for reporting COVID-19 vaccination status, effective April 1, 2022. Additionally, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will implement seven new ICD-10 procedure codes for COVID-19 therapeutics and vaccines, effective April 1, 2022.
Rep. Matsui Letter Urges Action on Extreme Prices Charged by Nurse Staffing Agencies
Rep. Doris Matsui, along with three congressional colleagues, submitted a letter earlier this week to White House COVID-19 Response Team Coordinator Jeffrey Zients inquiring about the extreme prices being reported for nurse staffing agencies in some states, including California.
FDA Withdraws Exceptions for Laboratory-Developed COVID-19 Tests
The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has reversed the prior administration’s policy on pre-market review exception for COVID-19 laboratory-developed tests that allowed the tests to be offered prior to or without FDA authorization.

