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
Three New FFY 2026 Impact Analyses Cover Medicare SNF, IRF, IPF Proposed Rules
What’s happening: CHA DataSuite released three hospital-specific analyses intended to show how Medicare skilled-nursing facility (SNF), inpatient rehabilitation facility (IRF), and inpatient psychiatric facility (IPF) prospective payment systems (PPS) payments would change from federal fiscal year (FFY) 2025 to 2026 based on policies set forth in the respective proposed rules.
Federal Agencies Issue New Guidance, RFIs on Price Transparency in Health Care
What’s happening: In response to President Donald Trump’s February executive order on price transparency, the departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Treasury, as well as the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, have issued new guidance and requests for information (RFIs) on machine-readable files, prescription drug pricing, and more.
CHA Educates State Policymakers on Major Threats to Access and Affordability
What’s happening: On May 20, CHA staff and hospital leaders convened about 40 legislative staffers for a discussion of policies coming out of Washington, D.C., and Sacramento that seriously threaten access to affordable care.
Reminder: First Hospital Equity Report Due Sept. 30
What’s happening: The first Hospital Equity Measures Report under Assembly Bill (AB) 1204 (2021) is due to the Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI) by Sept. 30. The reports must also include a plan to prioritize and address disparities for vulnerable populations identified in the submitted data.
Federal Agencies Will Not Enforce Mental Health Parity Final Rule
What’s happening: On May 15, the U.S. departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and the Treasury announced that they will not enforce the 2024 mental health parity final rule that aimed to improve access to mental health services by requiring health plans to make changes when inadequate access is provided.
Summary Details CMS Proposal to Modify Health Care-Related Taxes
What’s happening: Earlier this month, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed changes to Medicaid health care-related tax rules that pose significant risks to California’s managed care organization (MCO) tax and Hospital Quality Assurance Fee Program.
Prop 35 Advisory Committee Meeting Covers May Revision Funding Sweep, DHCS Proposals
What’s happening: At its May 19 meeting, the Proposition (Prop) 35 “Protect Access to Health Care Act” Stakeholder Advisory Committee heard stakeholder concerns about Gov. Gavin Newsom’s May budget revision, which redirects Prop 35 funding rather than allocating it for provider payment increases as intended.
Hospitals Should Review Medicare Hospital FFY 2026 Wage Index and Occupational Mix Final Data
What’s happening: CHA DataSuite has issued a hospital-specific analysis of the Medicare hospital federal fiscal year (FFY) 2026 wage index and occupational mix data. It is important that hospitals review these wage data and submit disputes and/or correction requests by May 30.
Early Bird Pricing Now Available for 2025 Disaster Planning Conference
What’s happening: Registration for CHA’s 2025 Disaster Planning Conference, taking place Sept. 9-10 in Sacramento, is open. Early bird pricing for both members and nonmembers expires on Aug. 7.
AHA Extends Annual Survey Deadline
What’s happening: The American Hospital Association (AHA) is giving hospitals extra time to complete its Annual Survey, which will help health care leaders, policymakers, and researchers describe and understand hospital operations. The deadline has been extended to Aug. 11.
