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
Eyes on CMS as Fee Program Negotiations Continue
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
As California hospitals continue to face strong financial headwinds — soaring inflation, the pending effects of nearly $1 trillion in nationwide federal health care cuts, increased regulatory pressures, and more — all eyes are on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), where California’s submission for the next Hospital Fee Program is currently under review.
Ahead of Final 2025 OHCA Board Meeting, CHA Highlights Office’s Key Missteps
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
What’s happening: This week, CHA submitted a letter to Health Care Affordability Board Chair Kim Johnson, calling out extensive shortcomings in the office’s recent report on Monterey County hospital prices and asking the office to look at all the factors influencing health care affordability – including commercial insurance companies’ role in driving up costs.
Register Now for Dec. 16 Webinar on New Quality Initiative
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
What’s happening: On Tuesday, the California Alignment for Hospital Quality (Cal HQ) will hold an informational session about the new collaborative’s work. Registration is required.
CARB Updates Deadlines, Provides Additional Clarity Around Reporting Requirements
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What’s happening: At a workshop last month, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) offered important clarifications on upcoming climate change reporting regulations — including that not-for-profit entities will not recommended as "covered entities."
DHCS Requests Comments on Plan Policies for SNF, Subacute Authorization and Payment by Friday
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What is happening: The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) is requesting feedback by Dec. 5 on draft all plan letters addressing updated policies for Medi-Cal managed care plan (MCP) coverage of skilled-nursing, subacute care , and intermediate care facility services.
CMS Repeals Minimum Staffing Standards for Skilled Nursing Faciities
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
What’s happening: On Dec. 2, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services issued an interim final rule that repeals minimum staffing standards for long-term care facilities, which were finalized in 2024.
Some Psychiatric Hospitals See Uptick in Requests to Admit Former State Hospital Patients
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What’s happening: Acute psychiatric hospitals and units located in Sonoma and Orange counties have recently reported increased local pressure to admit individuals who local courts have placed on a “Murphy” conservatorship following treatment in a state hospital.
House Passes Five-Year Extension of Hospital-at-Home Program
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
What’s happening: On Dec. 1, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the CHA-supported Hospital Inpatient Services Modernization Act (H.R. 4313) which would extend the Hospital-at-Home program for five years, through Sept. 30, 2030.
Health Care Worker Right to Vote Measure Heads to Signature-Gathering Phase
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Earlier this week, CHA’s sponsored ballot measure — The Health Care Union Transparency, Accountability & Union Member Right to Vote Act — received its official “Title and Summary” from the state Office of the Attorney General.
DHCS Releases Private Hospital-Directed Payment Encounter Files — Download by Jan. 5
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
What’s happening: On Nov. 21, the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) uploaded three new hospital-directed payment encounter files, available via the Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP) site. The SFTP site is not intended for long-term storage, so files will be deleted Jan. 5, 2026.
