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
CHPSO Name Change Announced
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
This week, the Hospital Quality Institute (HQI) issued a news release on the California Hospital Patient Safety Organization’s (CHPSO) name change, which was made to better reflect the organization’s work and membership. The new name is Collaborative Healthcare Patient Safety Organization.
CMS Approves First Waiver Request to Extend Medi-Cal 2020
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
Today, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) approved an amendment to California’s section 1115 demonstration, titled “Medi-Cal 2020,” which will allow California to continue to operate the Global Payment Program for a six-month period to align with the expiration of the demonstration on Dec. 31, 2020. This is the first of two important requests, where California’s Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) is asking CMS to extend the Medi-Cal 2020 waiver set to expire later this year.
Court Suspends ‘Public Charge’ Rule
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
On July 29, a U.S. district court issued a nationwide injunction preventing the Department of Homeland Security from enforcing the “public charge” federal regulations that took effect last August. The court held that the COVID-19 pandemic has drastically increased the potential risk of harm of foregoing benefits to immigrants, justifying the injunction during the public health emergency.
Appeals Court Upholds Payment Cut for 340B Hospitals
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
On Friday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit overturned a 2018 district court decision that found the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) exceeded its statutory authority when it reduced 2018 and 2019 Medicare payment rates for many hospitals in the 340B Drug Pricing Program by nearly 30%.
Hospital Fee Program Invoices Due Aug. 20
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
On Friday, the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) mailed the 2017-19 Hospital Fee Program managed care state fiscal year 2018-19 directed payment invoices (July 1-Dec. 31, 2018). Hospitals are reminded that payment is due Aug. 20 and that DHCS prefers fee payments to be made via electronic funds transfer.
Updated Hepatitis A Vaccine Information Statement Released
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
On July 28, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released an updated interim vaccine information statement for the hepatitis A vaccine. Federal law requires that health care providers give the relevant vaccine information statement to each patient (or parent/legal representative) who is vaccinated.
Updates for the Week of July 27
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:
HQRP Quarterly Update for 2nd and 3rd Quarters of 2020 is Available SNF QRP COVID-19 PHE Tip Sheet is Available IRF QRP COVID-19 PHE Tip Sheet is Available LTCH QRP COVID-19 PHE Tip Sheet is Available
CHA Letter Details Concerns With June 12 Cal/OSHA Guidance on Respirator Shortages
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
CHA recently submitted a letter to Cal/OSHA to provide feedback on its June 12 guidance that focuses on severe respirator shortages and some changes under consideration. The letter expresses hospitals’ concerns with the guidance, which would destabilize rather than enhance employee safety.
JAMA Article Examines Behavioral Health Parity Efforts Nationwide
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A recent article in JAMA — citing data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration — reported that less than two-thirds of patients with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or other serious mental health conditions received care for their illness in 2018, while the same study showed only one in five people with an opioid use disorder obtained treatment.
CMS Delays Occupational Mix Survey Deadline to Sept. 3
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has further delayed the submission deadline for the 2019 Occupational Mix Survey to Sept. 3. CMS collects data every three years on the occupational mix of employees for each short-term, acute care hospital participating in the Medicare program.
