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
New Executive Order Extends Waiver Authority for CDPH and EMSA
On Aug. 16, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an executive order reinstating certain authorities that had been granted to state government agencies early in the pandemic, but were withdrawn on June 11, 2021. Specifically, yesterday’s order does the following for two key provisions related to hospitals that were set to expire Sept. 30, 2021:
Project Roomkey Remains Active
In April 2020, Gov. Newsom announced Project Roomkey, an initiative secured with Federal Emergency Management Agency approval to provide safe isolation for people experiencing homelessness to protect them and California communities from COVID-19. Managed by county partners, Project Roomkey provides meals and secures housing in hotel and motel rooms for homeless individuals who are at...
Exceptions to Nurse Staffing Ratio Law
Given that CDPH is not planning to issue a statewide blanket waiver of the nurse-to-patient ratio law at this time, hospitals are reminded of the following exceptions related to this law:
CHA Releases 2021 Consent Manual; Available as ePub Only
CHA is pleased to release the 2021 Consent Manual, the authoritative one-stop resource on how to comply with legal requirements related to patient consent for medical treatment, release of medical information, reporting requirements, and more.
CHA DataSuite Releases Analyses of IPF, SNF, and IRF PPS Final Rules
CHA DataSuite has issued hospital-specific analyses of the federal fiscal year (FFY) 2022 final rules for the Medicare skilled-nursing facility (SNF) prospective payment system (PPS), the FFY 2022 inpatient rehabilitation facility (IRF) PPS, and the FFY 2022 inpatient psychiatric facility (IPF) PPS.
Grants Available to Expand Access to COVID-19 Vaccines, Health Care Services, and Food Assistance
Last week, the Biden-Harris Administration announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture is making up to $500 million available in grants to help rural health care facilities, tribes, and communities expand access to COVID-19 vaccines, health care services, and nutrition assistance.
Livanta to Begin Requesting Medical Records for Medicare Claim Review
Beginning this week, Livanta — the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) national contractor for Medicare claim review services — will begin to review Short Stay and Higher-Weighted Diagnosis Related Group (HWDRG) claims from hospitals.
FDA Authorizes, CDC Recommends Third Dose of COVID-19 Vaccine for Immunocompromised Individuals
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last week amended emergency use authorizations for Pfizer and Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccines to allow for the use of a third, additional dose for certain immunocompromised individuals, specifically for “solid organ transplant recipients or those who are diagnosed with conditions that are considered to have an equivalent level of immunocompromise.”
CHA Issues FAQs on Recent State Health Orders on Vaccination
To support members as they implement the recent state public health officer orders requiring testing of unvaccinated workers and employee vaccine requirements, CHA has compiled a set of frequently asked questions.
CDPH Provides FAQs on Weekly COVID-19 Patient Discharge Data Reporting
In All Facilities Letter (AFL) 21-25, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) announced that it is requiring general acute care hospitals to report patient-level discharge information for each hospitalized person who tests positive for COVID-19. To assist hospitals with this data reporting, CDPH recently released FAQs on this AFL.

