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 Updates Hospital Star Ratings, Seeks Comments on Proposed Changes to Methodology
Last week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) updated its overall hospital quality star ratings on Hospital Compare, which were last updated in December 2017.
CHA to Host Member Call on Title 22 Comments to California Department of Public Health
CHA will host a call on March 7 from 10-11:30 a.m. (PT) to solicit member input on possible changes to Title 22 regulations. CHA will use this input to inform its comments to the California Department of Public Health’s Center for Health Care Quality, which has released seven All Facilities Letters (AFLs) requesting stakeholder feedback.
Therapy Services and Rehab Center Regulatory Review
March 7, 2019
10:00 – 11:30 a.m., Pacific Time
The California Department of Public Health’s Center for Health Care Quality is seeking stakeholder input on possible changes to Title 22 state regulations for several areas relating to hospital provision of therapy, rehabilitation and other services. Comments are due by March 22, 2019.
For each therapy service area, Title 22 regulations include provisions addressing requirements for staff and staff supervision, space, and equipment and supplies.
Senate Health Committee Holds Hearing on Improving Performance in Commercial Health Insurance and Medi-Cal
Earlier this week, CHA attended a Senate Health Committee informational hearing that examined strategies across all purchasers and programs that have the objective of improving the care delivered to people with chronic conditions.
CMS Issues Guidance on Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule Reporting Requirements
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued additional guidance for laboratories that are required to report private payer data for laboratory tests under the clinical laboratory fee schedule (CLFS). CHA urges any hospital with a laboratory that bills Medicare on a Form CMS-1450 14x Type of Bill to carefully review the guidance to determine its status as an applicable laboratory.
DHCS Releases Phase 1 Volume Charts for Hospital Fee Directed Payments
Today, the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) will release the final Phase 1 (June 1-Dec. 31, 2017) encounter volume charts for the Hospital Fee Program to all health plans and hospitals. The data will be available via the Secure File Transfer Protocol site.
‘Medi-Cal Explained’ Series Includes Resources on Beneficiaries, Services, Finances
A new informational series from the California Health Care Foundation explains various facets of the Medi-Cal program, including a program overview, challenges of program eligibility and enrollment, the process and challenges of payments to Medi-Cal managed care plans, the 2019 edition of Medi-Cal facts and figures, the intersection of Medi-Cal and behavioral health, and the Medi-Cal budget process.
CDPH Proposes Increase in Hospital Licensing Fees
The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) proposes to increase hospital licensing fees by 20 percent for state fiscal year 2019-20, raising fees from $550 to $661 per bed.
CHA Asks Hospitals to Urge Representatives to Support Equitable Distribution of Livers for Transplantation
Earlier this month, CHA sent an Advocacy Alert to hospital leaders explaining a new policy that reduces the disparity in access to livers for transplantation in California and asking hospitals to urge their members of Congress to sign a bipartisan letter supporting the policy. The deadline for signatures has been extended to 2 p.m. (PT) on Feb. 28.
Experts Discuss Workers’ Compensation Issues at Upcoming Seminar
CHA’s members-only Hospital Employee Safety and Workers’ Compensation Seminar is coming March 14 to Costa Mesa and March 20 to Sacramento. While providing a safe work environment is always the goal, hospitals need to understand how to get their employees the help they need when they get injured, while remaining compliant with California employment law.
