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 Oct. 19
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services issued the following updates this week:
CMS Releases Frequently Asked Questions for the CHART Model Webinar: Finding IPFQR Program Information on the QualityNet Website Webinar: FY 2021 IPPS/LTCH PPS Final Rule Overview for Hospital Quality Programs Webinar: Reviewing CY 2020 eCQM Resources for the Hospital IQR Program and Medicare and Medicaid Promoting Interoperability Program
New Monthly Newsletter Spotlights Volunteers
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
On Oct. 21, the California Association of Hospitals and Health Systems launched Volunteer Heartbeat: The Pulse of California Hospital Volunteers, its new volunteer services newsletter. Designed for California’s hospital volunteers and volunteer program leaders, the monthly newsletter provides members the opportunity to showcase programs, share stories of gratitude, pose questions for peers, learn about educational opportunities, and more.
AB 890 Allows Nurse Practitioners Greater Independence
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
Assembly Bill (AB) 890 (Wood, D-Santa Rosa), which was signed into law on Sept. 29, will authorize a nurse practitioner who meets certain requirements to practice without physician supervision. The new law will improve access to health care by allowing nurse practitioners greater freedom and flexibility to practice in communities with insufficient primary care services. Details about the changes that will be implemented with AB 890 are available here.
National Suicide Hotline Bill Signed into Law
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On Oct. 17, President Trump signed the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act into law, designating 988 as the nationwide three-digit phone number to connect people experiencing mental health crises to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
Adventist Health CEO Scott Reiner Elected 2021 Chair of the CHA Board of Trustees
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
Scott Reiner, CEO of Adventist Health, has been elected 2021 chair of CHA’s Board of Trustees. Reiner, a registered nurse with nearly 30 years of health care leadership experience, has held various hospital CEO and system executive positions within Adventist Health since 1999, and has held the top position since 2014.
See CHA’s news release for more about Reiner and the 2021 board.
CMS to Delay Radiation Oncology Model Implementation Until July 2021
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The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has announced it intends to delay implementation of the radiation oncology model until July 1, 2021, via future rulemaking.
Report: COVID-19 Continues to Take a Toll on Americans’ Mental Health
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A report from the United States Congress Joint Economic Committee examines how COVID-19’s health and economic repercussions have led to “an unprecedented mental health crisis” in America. The 13-page report summarizes earlier surveys and studies that have found:
Two-thirds of Americans fear that they or their loved ones will be exposed to the virus. More than 12 million Americans are unemployed, and, since February, more than 5 million have given up looking for work. Nearly one-third of adult Americans are having trouble paying for typical household expenses.
CHA Board Discusses Policy Priorities for 2021
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At its Oct. 15 meeting, the CHA Board of Trustees discussed the upcoming federal election, current ballot initiatives, results of the 2020 legislative session, policy needs related to COVID-19, and advocacy priorities for the coming year, including:
COVID-19, where conversation focused on developing a coordinated response, vaccine deployment, and potential mandates for health care workers The Affordable Care Act, which could be diluted or negated by a Supreme Court decision in mid-2021 Health equity, where hospitals must act to begin to address injustices, including those wrought by the COVID-19 pandemic
California Certified to Submit COVID-19 Data to Federal Government
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
On Oct. 6, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released guidance (with accompanying FAQs from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services) on how it will enforce the interim final rule that requires hospitals to report COVID-19 data, in order to continue to participate in the Medicare and Medicaid programs. The FAQs noted that hospitals could be relieved from reporting directly to the federal government if they receive a written release from the state indicating that the state is certified and will collect the data from hospitals and take over the hospital’s federal reporting responsibilities. On Oct. 15, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) received that release.
CDPH Issues AFL on Management of Influenza in SNFs
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The California Department of Public Health has issued All Facilities Letter (AFL) 20-80, which notes the potential for concurrent COVID-19 and influenza outbreaks in skilled-nursing facilities.
