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 Announces Updates to Nursing Home Compare, Adds Abuse Icon to SNF listings
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued updates to the Nursing Home Compare website. Among the most significant changes is the addition of a new “abuse icon,” which will be used to highlight facilities with instances of non-compliance related to abuse, based on specified criteria.
Hospital Quality Institute Conference Draws Patient Safety Leaders to Sacramento
More than 350 health care professionals gathered at the 2019 Hospital Quality Institute (HQI) Annual Conference in Sacramento Oct. 14 and 15 to discuss the successes that have positioned California as the quality improvement leader,
Hospitals Will Test Earthquake Readiness in Great ShakeOut Drill
Hospitals throughout California will participate in the annual Great ShakeOut drill Oct. 17. Intended to help Californians prepare for the next big earthquake, the drill is an opportunity for hospitals to review and update their plans for preventing and minimizing damage and injuries, and to improve their continuity of operations if an earthquake happens.
Federal Court Injunctions Delay ‘Public Charge’ Rule
Last week, U.S District Court judges in New York, California, and Washington issued temporary injunctions against the Trump administration’s “public charge” rule, effectively blocking it from taking effect yesterday. In August, the administration announced changes expanding the federal government’s ability to deny immigrants U.S. entry or adjustment to their legal permanent resident status (e.g., green card) if they are determined likely to become public charges. The new policy adds to the list of programs that may be considered for determining public charge status, including not only cash assistance and long-term care but also certain health care, nutrition, and housing programs.
CHA DataSuite Releases Second Quarter 2019 CAH Value-Based Purchasing Program Analysis
CHA DataSuite has issued hospital-specific analyses for critical access hospitals (CAHs) based on the rules for the Medicare value-based purchasing (VBP) program for inpatient prospective payment system (IPPS) hospitals.
Hospital Leaders Share Insight From Disaster Experiences
At last month’s Disaster Planning for California Hospitals conference in Pasadena, a panel of hospital executives whose hospitals had been affected by recent fires and mudslides shared their experiences, reinforced the importance of preparedness, and offered first-hand insight. The video below captures some of their struggles and discoveries both during and after major natural disasters.
Updates for the Week of Oct. 11
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has released the following information:
Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility, Long-Term Care Hospital, and Hospice Provider Preview Reports Available Home Health Preview Reports and Star Rating Preview Reports for the January 2020 Refresh Available in CASPER
CHA DataSuite Releases Readmissions Reduction Program Analysis
CHA DataSuite has issued hospital-specific analyses of the Medicare Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program, with detailed performance information on the readmissions measures currently evaluated under the program.
HHS Proposes Changes to Stark Law and Anti-Kickback Statute
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has issued two new proposed rules, one on the physician self referral law — also known as the Stark Law — and another revising the anti-kickback statute.
SAMHSA Offers Resources on Methamphetamine Use
The federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has produced a series of videos and other resources for consumers and health care professionals, designed to address methamphetamine use.

