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 Extends Comment Period for Proposed Changes to HIPAA Privacy Rule
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has extended the comment period for the proposed rule that makes changes to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) privacy rule. Comments are now due to HHS by 2 p.m. (PT) on May 6.
CMS Extends Limited Survey Activity to March 22
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
On Jan. 20, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services posted a memo limiting federal survey activity by the California Department of Public Health and other state survey agencies to immediate jeopardy allegations, with some exceptions. The original expiration date of Feb. 20 has been extended to March 22.
Hospital PPE Stockpile Deadline Approaching While Ambiguity Remains
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
Labor Code 6403.3 requires general acute care hospitals to maintain a stockpile of specified personal protective equipment, beginning April 1, in the amount equal to three months of normal consumption.
CDPH Adopts CDC Guidance on Quarantine of Vaccinated Persons; CDC Releases Recommendations on Vaccinated Persons in Non-Health Care Settings
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
On March 5, at CHA’s request, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) revised All Facilities Letter 21-08 to adopt the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) guidance that — as a strategy to alleviate staffing shortages — hospitals can forgo quarantining vaccinated health care personnel following a high-risk exposure if they are fully vaccinated, were vaccinated in the last three months, and are asymptomatic.
Senate Passes COVID-19 Relief Package That Includes CHA-Supported Provisions
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
On March 6, the Senate passed the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, a $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package focused on vaccines, testing, public health, and aiding individuals and families. The Senate made some changes to the House-passed version, so the House will need to vote on the Senate version before sending the measure to President Biden for his signature. Among the CHA-supported provisions important to hospitals and health systems are:
Updates for the Week of March 1
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued the following updates this week:
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality seeks submission of scientific studies to support research on Improving Rural Health Through Telehealth-Guided Provider-to-Provider Communication
3Q 2020 Clinical, HAI, and PC-01 Data Submission Deadline March 18, 2021
Third quarter (3Q) 2020 Chart-Abstracted Clinical measures (SEP-1)
3Q 2020 Perinatal Care (PC-01) measure
3Q 2020 Healthcare-Associated Infection (HAI) measures
IQR 3Q 2020 Population and Sampling Data Due March 18, 2021
CHA Joins Grassroots Movement to Build Trust in COVID-19 Vaccines
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
CHA, the Hospital Association of Southern California, the Hospital Association of San Diego & Imperial Counties, and the Hospital Council — Northern & Central California have joined the California Medical Association’s grassroots efforts to help build trust in the COVID-19 vaccines.
The #ThisIsOurShot campaign seeks to use evidence-based messaging to elevate the voices of health care heroes as trusted messengers through stories, photos, and videos. Front-line health care workers are encouraged to tell their stories and share their personal COVID-19 vaccine experiences with the network.
The Joint Commission to Begin Unannounced Surveys on March 15
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
The Joint Commission (TJC) is planning to resume unannounced surveys on March 15.
For the past few months, given the COVID-19 pandemic, TJC account executives have reached out to providers to determine their readiness for survey prior to arriving. Given the decreasing incidence and caseloads of COVID-19, they will be returning to their pre-pandemic procedures.
CHA Sends Letter to State on Preparations in the Event of Another Surge
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
On Feb. 26, CHA sent a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Mark Ghaly on surge preparations, seeking to continue to partner, assess lessons learned, and resolve unfinished business that must be addressed in the event of another surge.
Specifically, the letter makes five recommendations:
Webinar Will Detail No Surprises Act and What It Means for Hospitals
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
On March 24 from 11 a.m. to noon (PT), CHA will host a members-only webinar explaining the No Surprises Act, which prohibits patients from getting surprise bills in certain out-of-network situations.
Chad Mulvany, CHA vice president, federal policy, will lead the discussion on the act, which was signed into law last year as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 and addresses surprise medical billing for federally regulated plans and in states without surprise billing laws.
