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 Delays Billing Edit Requiring Exact Matching for OPPS Providers With Multiple Service Locations Until October
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has postponed the activation of billing edits requiring exact matching for the address on claims data for outpatient prospective payment system providers with multiple service locations. The edits will now be implemented in October 2019.
Federal ‘Conscience’ Rule Delayed
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
Yesterday, the federal Department of Health and Human Services announced it will delay by four months its expansion of protections for health workers. Referred to as the “conscience rule,” the regulation would protect health care workers who refuse to participate in services — such as abortion, sterilization, and assisted suicide — that run counter to their religious beliefs or moral convictions.
CMS Modifies Medicare Shared Savings Program Overlap Policy for BPCI Advanced Model
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
As referenced in a recently updated FAQ, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has been considering how to address model overlap between Bundled Payments for Care Improvement Advanced (BPCI Advanced) and the Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP) for Model Year 3, beginning Jan. 1, 2020. In an email last week to BPCI Advanced participants, CMS announced that, for Model Year 3 reconciliation calculations, BPCI Advanced will no longer exclude MSSP beneficiaries.
Agenda Set for 2019 Disaster Planning Conference
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
California may experience any number of disasters in the coming years — from fires to flooding, and more. The agenda for this year’s Disaster Planning for California Hospitals Conference, to be held Sept. 10-11 in Pasadena, reflects the diverse skill sets required of our responders. Covering topics such as lessons learned from active shooter events, integrating business continuity and emergency preparedness, creating resiliency across the continuum of care, and earthquake early warning systems, the event is not to be missed.
Next Round of Proposition 56 Graduate Medical Education Funding Available Soon
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
This week, Physicians for a Healthy California announced it will award approximately $40 million in the second cycle of its CalMedForce Program, which provides funding for graduate medical education (GME) programs in California. Applications will be released Sept. 23 and are due Oct. 28.
DHCS Releases New Hospital Directed Payment Data Sets
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
Last week, the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) released two new hospital directed payment data sets, available via the Secure File Transfer Protocol site (the site is only intended for file transfers, and uploaded files will be deleted within 45 days). The data cover state fiscal year (SFY) 2017-18 Phase 2 (Jan. 1, 2018 – June 30, 2018) and SFY 2018-19 Phase 1 (July 1, 2018 – Dec. 31, 2018).
CHA Secures Amendments to Nurse Staffing Ratio Bill, Continues Advocacy to Oppose
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
One of CHA’s highest legislative priorities this year has been Senate Bill (SB) 227 (Leyva, D-Chino), which would create duplicative and mandatory fines for hospitals if they do not meet required nurse staffing ratios. With help from member hospitals, our advocacy generated key amendments last week, including:
An exemption for hospitals that — in response to an unforeseeable and uncontrollable fluctuation — promptly make an effort to maintain staffing requirements A 50% reduction in the fines (now $15,000 for the first violation and $30,000 subsequently) A reduction in the length of time required to revert to a first violation (lowered from six years to three)
House Ways & Means Committee Passes CHA-Supported Opioid Workforce Act of 2019
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
On June 26, the U.S. House of Representatives’ Ways and Means Committee passed a measure that would increase graduate medical education slots for academic medical centers with existing pain and addiction training programs. H.R. 3414 — the Opioid Workforce Act of 2019 — is supported by CHA as it would benefit numerous academic medical centers throughout the state. It will now move to the full House for consideration.
New Data Highlight Teen Mental Health
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
The Health and Human Services’ Office of Adolescent Health has updated its national and state data sheets, which measure a range of adolescent health factors and behaviors. The analysis draws on large, nationally representative surveys, and measures include physical activity and nutrition, mentorship, family meals, cigarette and e-cigarette use, driving under the influence, depression systems, bullying, dating violence, and more.
Board of Registered Nursing to Host Enforcement Workshop July 8
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
On July 8 from 10-11:30 a.m. (PT), the California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN) will host a webinar about its enforcement program, covering:
What constitutes a violation Complaint intake and investigative processes Types of discipline that can be imposed on a licensee The intervention program and different types of probation
Questions should be directed to WebmasterBRN@dca.ca.gov.
