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
CMS Provides Training for Falls Assessment in Post-Acute Care Settings
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has developed a web-based training program for the standardized patient assessment data elements related to falls.
U.S. House Advances COVID-19 Bill
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
On Feb. 27, the House of Representatives passed a modified version of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (H.R. 1319), a $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package that focuses on vaccines, testing, and public health, while also providing assistance to individuals and families, among other provisions. The Senate will consider the bill this week and is expected to further modify the legislation.
Key health care provisions include:
OSHPD Establishes Commission, Developing Processes for Hospital Supplier Diversity Reports
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
On March 12 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. (PT), the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (OSHPD) will hold the first meeting of its Hospital Diversity Commission, which is comprised of representatives from health care, procurement, and other stakeholders.
Biden Administration Clarifies COVID-19 Testing Coverage Requirements
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
On Feb. 26, the Departments of Health and Human Services, Labor, and Treasury updated guidance related to COVID-19 testing. The clarifications should improve access to no-cost-sharing COVID-19 testing for both the insured and uninsured. However, it stops short of requiring health plan coverage of COVID-19 testing for public health surveillance.
The updated guidance clarifies that under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act and the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act health plans:
CDC: U.S. Suicide Rate Fell Before COVID-19 Pandemic, But Prevention More Important Than Ever
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Feb. 26 Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, after increasing for 13 years, the U.S. suicide rate dropped overall by 2% between 2018 and 2019. But the report cautioned those figures do not account for the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
CHA Webinar Will Provide Overview of DHCS 340B Self-Audit
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
CHA will host a webinar with Hooper, Lundy, & Bookman, PC, on March 3 from 10 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. (PT) to review the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) requirements for 340B self-audit of fee-for-service claims data, and to discuss developments to date. DHCS announced in July it would send letters to every 340B provider/covered entity demanding they conduct a self-audit.
While some hospitals have already received these letters, most have not. That is expected to change soon, and this complimentary, members-only webinar will help hospitals prepare by answering these questions:
Updates for the Week of Feb. 22
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:
March 9 Webinar: Q&A Session: CY 2020 eCQM Reporting Using the HQR System Post-Acute Care Transfers: Bill Correctly CMS Reopening MIPS EUC application for Individual MIPS Eligible Clinicians, Groups, Virtual Groups, and APM Entities through March 31, 2021 at 5 p.m. PT CMS Applying MIPS Automatic Extreme and Uncontrollable Circumstances Policy to All MIPS Eligible Clinicians for 2020 Performance Period
CDPH Announces Paperless Process for Issuing Facility Licenses
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
On Feb. 22, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) announced in All Facilities Letter 21-10 that its Centralized Applications Branch (CAB) will begin a paperless process for issuing health care facility licenses, starting March 1.
CEO Message: Hospitals Endure Massive Financial Hit from COVID-19
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
As Congress continues to deliberate President Biden’s $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package, with House approval expected Friday, a new report from financial consulting firm Kaufman Hall paints a troubling picture of the financial toll the pandemic has taken on hospitals.
CHA Continues Advocacy on Statewide Vaccine Network; Blue Shield Announces Revisions to Contract
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
CHA continues to work with the state’s Government Operations Agency and its third-party administrator (TPA), Blue Shield of California, on the new statewide vaccination network.
Currently, Blue Shield is determining which providers will be in its network, and is doing so in three stages:
