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
Learn About Ransomware, Emerging Cyber Threats during Feb. 11 Webinar
Breaches to hospital data systems can happen fast and be devastating. To help hospitals avoid these breaches, CHA and Hospital Council — Northern & Central California will host a webinar, Ransomware and Emerging Cyber Threats, on Feb. 11 from 1:30 to 3 p.m. (PT).
HHS Anticipates Public Health Emergency Will Last Through 2021
In a letter to governors dated Jan. 22, Acting Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Norris Cochran indicated the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) will likely last through 2021.
President Issues Executive Orders to Address COVID-19 Pandemic
On Jan. 21, President Biden issued additional executive orders and directives instructing various federal agencies to take specific actions to address the COVID-19 pandemic, including expanding testing and vaccination capacity, increasing personal protective equipment (PPE) and other necessary materials to combat the pandemic, slowing the spread of COVID-19, and addressing inequitable outcomes.
Updates for the Week of Jan. 18
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services issued the following updates this week:
Hospital IPPS: FAQs on Market-Based MS-DRG Relative Weights
HQRP Quarterly Update for 4th Quarter of 2020 Available
2/3: Overall Hospital Quality Star Ratings on Care Compare: 2021 OPPS Rule Methodology Webinar
CMS Updates Qualifying Alternative Payment Model Participant (QP) Thresholds (see slide 12)
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.