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
CDC Grants to Public Health Departments Will Address COVID-19 Disparities; Informational Calls March 30
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has announced an initiative to invest $2.25 billion over two years to address COVID-19-related health disparities and advance health equity among populations that are high risk and underserved, including racial and ethnic minority groups and people living in rural areas.
New Study Analyzes Behavioral Health Care Utilization During COVID-19 Pandemic
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
An analysis of insurance claims from the same periods in 2019 and 2020 found that mental health and substance use disorder inpatient admissions dropped through April 2020 — similar to decreases seen in physical health care services. However, subsequent behavioral health inpatient admissions increased through August 2020 at a much higher rate than medical services, with admission rates exceeding 2019 levels in...
HHS Updates Data Reporting Guidance
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently updated its guidance to hospitals on the reporting of COVID-19-related data. It includes the addition of new COVID-19 therapeutic fields and updates to the vaccination fields. Additionally, fields related to personnel protective equipment re-use and extended use are now optional.
Updates to data reporting include:
CHA Submits Pre-Regulatory Comments on No Surprises Act
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
CHA has submitted comments to the Departments of Health and Human Services, Labor, and Treasury related to the implementation of the No Surprises Act.
The legislation limits patient out-of-pocket costs to the in-network amount for emergency medical care provided by out-of-network facilities and providers and in certain situations where care is delivered at an in-network facility by an out-of-network provider.
Learn About Applying for FEMA Assistance Grants During CHA Webinar
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
On April 1 from 9:30 to 11 a.m. (PT), CHA is joining with the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) team on a webinar to help hospitals apply for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) assistance grants. During this complimentary, members-only webinar, experts will cover general information regarding FEMA’s HMA grant program, including the...
CMS Publishes Clarifications on IRF-PAI, LTCH-CARE
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has published Question & Answer documents for the patient assessment instruments (PAIs) used in inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRFs) and long-term care hospitals (LTCHs).
CHA Submits Comments to DHCS on Draft Enhanced Care Management and In-Lieu-of-Services Requirements
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
CHA has submitted comments to the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) on the draft Enhanced Care Management (ECM) and In-Lieu-of-Services (ILOS) requirements.
In the letter, CHA noted specific areas of concern. They include:
CDPH Issues Reminder About Vaccine Eligibility and Clarifications
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
On March 16, the California Department of Public Health issued a reminder to local health jurisdictions and vaccine providers about vaccine eligibility, eligibility changes, and clarifications.
Addressing the expansion of vaccine eligibility that took effect on March 15, this reminder clarifies how to verify eligibility for those ages 16-64 who are deemed to be at highest risk to get very sick from COVID-19 due to specified severe health conditions or developmental or other severe disabilities or illness.
Biden Administration Announces Grants for Health Departments to Address COVID-19 Disparities
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
On March 17, the Biden administration announced the availability of $2.5 billion in grant funding to address COVID-19 health disparities and advance health equity among high-risk and underserved populations.
The grants, available to state and local health departments that serve a population of 400,000 or more, will:
Governor Signs COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave Bill
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
On March 19, Gov. Newsom signed Senate Bill 95, the COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave bill. As a budget trailer bill, it goes into effect immediately, but employers have until March 29 to come into compliance.
The law requires employers with more than 25 employees to provide paid sick leave for specified reasons related to COVID-19, retroactive to Jan. 1, 2021. While some aspects of the law are identical to the COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave law that expired on Dec. 31, 2020, there are some significant differences.
