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
HHS Updates Provider Relief Fund Reporting Requirements
On Jan. 15, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) updated its Provider Relief Fund (PRF) reporting requirements to reflect changes required by the recently passed Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 (CAA). In addition to calculating lost revenue attributable to COVID-19 based on the difference between 2019 and 2020 actual patient care revenue, PRF recipients may now choose from two other methodologies.
NAMI California Releases Two State of Community Reports
The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) California has released its 2020 State of Community Reports for both families and diverse communities. NAMI California engaged families from across the state, compiling both qualitative and quantitative data highlighting the most important issues facing Californians.
CMS Releases Final Medicare Advantage Part C & D Payment Policies for CY 2022
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has finalized the Medicare Advantage Part C and Part D payment methodologies for calendar year 2022. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, CMS is providing earlier notification of the finalized payment changes to give plans more time to prepare bids for 2022, which are due June 7. The finalized changes are expected to increase plan revenue by 4.08%.
HHS Expands Access to Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has eliminated the X-waiver for physicians, meaning that physicians can prescribe buprenorphine without taking an eight-hour course and without obtaining a waiver from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
HQI to Host Root Cause Analysis Innovation Virtual Summit
The Hospital Quality Institute (HQI) along with the Collaborative Healthcare Patient Safety Organization (CHPSO) and the Alliance for Quality Improvement and Patient Safety (AQIPS) are partnering to present the Root Cause Analysis (RCA) Innovation Virtual Summit. This first-of-its-kind summit kicks off Feb. 16 with a series of four “pre-summit” webinars.
President Issues Executive Orders to Coordinate Unified Federal Response to COVID-19
On Jan. 20, President Biden issued two executive orders intended to address the COVID-19 pandemic. The first executive order creates the role of a COVID-19 response coordinator to oversee the federal response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
HHS Adds Optional Data Reporting Fields for Health Care Personnel, Patient Vaccinations
The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) recently announced updates to COVID-19 hospital reporting. HHS added seven new optional fields related to health care personnel and patient vaccinations that hospitals can report on each Wednesday. While currently optional, the fields are likely to become mandatory in the future. An interim final rule added collecting and reporting COVID-19 data to the Medicare and Medicaid conditions of participation.
CHA Issues Summary of Proposed Changes to HIPAA Privacy Rule
CHA has issued a summary, prepared by Health Policy Alternatives, Inc., of the proposed rule announced by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that would make changes to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) privacy rule.
CMS Finalizes Rule on Prior Authorization Process
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) – in coordination with the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology – has issued a final rule intended to streamline and reduce the burden associated with health plan prior authorization processes through Application Programming Interfaces (APIs).
