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
OHCA Board Could Approve Creation of Statewide Hospital Sector in Early 2025
What’s happening: The Office of Health Care Affordability (OHCA) board met earlier this week to discuss options for defining hospitals as a sector for spending target purposes, as well as receive an update on progress toward adopting a behavioral health investment benchmark.
What else to know: CHA wrote to the board and provided public comment, pressing that the adoption of a hospital sector definition is premature and misguided, while stating the importance of including the full continuum of clinically appropriate services in OHCA’s behavioral health investment benchmark.
New Disaster Preparedness Site Streamlines Crisis Response Resources
What’s happening: CHA has incorporated its disaster preparedness website, www.calhospitalprepare.org, into the general CHA website, giving members one-stop access to all association info.
What else to know: The new web page retains the critical disaster recovery and response information formerly housed on the previous site, combining that essential content with CHA’s broader resources.
CHA Summary Covers Proposed Changes to Medicare Advantage Part D Plans
What’s happening: CHA has issued a members-only summary of the proposed changes to Medicare Advantage (MA) and Part D programs for contract year 2026.
What else to know: The summary, prepared by Health Policy Alternatives, Inc., also includes proposals to codify existing sub-regulatory guidance in the MA Part C and Part D programs.
CHA Issues Summary of New Payment Model on Kidney Transplant Access
What’s happening: A summary of the finalized Increasing Organ Transplant Access Model is available for CHA members.
What else to know: The model will test whether performance-based incentive payments paid to or owed by participating kidney transplant hospitals increase access to kidney transplants for patients with end-stage renal disease.
CHA DataSuite Analysis Provides Comparative Review of CMS ‘Care Compare’ Quality Data for Third Quarter 2024
What’s happening: CHA DataSuite has issued a hospital-specific analysis on quality program measure trends for the third quarter of 2024.
What else to know: The analysis provides hospitals a comparative review of the quality data collected over time by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and published on Care Compare.
A Powerful Presence in 2024 … and Beyond
As 2024 comes to a close, it’s a good time to pause to reflect on the work we’ve done together to help improve the lives of all Californians.
DHCS Releases Updated List of Medi-Cal Managed Care Plan Liaisons for Long-Term Care Providers
What’s happening: The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) requires Medi-Cal managed care plans (MCPs) to identify a liaison to serve as a single point of contact for long-term care providers. These liaisons are listed in an updated DHCS document.
What else to know: The long-term services and supports (LTSS) liaison provides support to LTC providers, including skilled-nursing facilities (SNFs) with addressing claims and payment inquiries and care transitions to support Medi-Cal members’ needs.
DMHC Fines Blue Cross of California $3.5 Million, Second Grievance-Related Fine in Recent History
What’s happening: On. Dec. 16, the California Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC) announced that it fined Blue Cross of California (Anthem Blue Cross) $3.5 million for mishandling member grievances and not responding on time.
What else to know: Anthem Blue Cross has paid the $3.5 million fine and acknowledged its failure to follow law, which states that “health plans must resolve a standard grievance within 30 days and send a written resolution to the member.”
CHA to Host 2025 HR Conference
What’s happening: CHA has partnered with the Hospital Association of Southern California to host the 2025 HR Conference in Long Beach, taking place on Feb. 19 from noon to 5 p.m. and Feb. 20 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
What else to know: The conference will cover topics relevant to human resource (HR) professionals, including recruitment and retention strategies, reasonable accommodation best practices, wage and hour compliance, and workplace investigations. Registration is open for CHA members.
CMS Memos Clarify Policies for Providers, State Survey Agencies
What’s happening: In four new memos, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) clarifies survey policies for critical access hospitals (CAHs), long-term care facilities (LTC), and laboratories.
What else you need to know: New and revised guidance addresses time-share and leased space arrangements in CAHs, immediate jeopardy in laboratories, and LTC policies.
