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
CHA Will Host Member Call on CJR Model Final Rule
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
CHA reminds members to register for its member call on the Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement model. The call has been rescheduled to a new time: Jan. 13 from 1:30 – 3 p.m. (PT). During this call, CHA will review key provisions of the final rule as well as CHA DataSuite reports distributed today.
To register, please visit www.surveymonkey.com/r/SJXZTZS. Deadline for registration is Jan. 12 at noon (PT). Dial-in information and materials will be sent to registered attendees by close of business Jan. 12.
CMS Issues Request for Information on Electronic Clinical Quality Measures
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), in conjunction with the Office of the National Coordinator (ONC), has issued the attached request for information about the certification of health information technology (HIT). CMS and ONC seek information on electronic health records (EHR) products used for reporting electronic clinical quality measures for EHR incentive programs, the hospital inpatient quality reporting program and the physician quality reporting system. CMS and ONC request feedback on how often to require recertification, the number of clinical quality measures a certified HIT module should be required to certify to, and ways to improve testing of the modules. Comments on the request are due Feb. 1.
CHA Submits Comments on EPA Pharmaceutical Waste Proposed Rule
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
CHA has submitted the attached comment letter to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on its proposed rule for management standards for hazardous waste pharmaceuticals. Developed in conjunction with a member workgroup, CHA’s comments are generally supportive of the proposed requirements but express concern with the overlap of state and federal law. CHA urges EPA to develop technical assistance for state agencies, ensuring that both state and federal regulations can be complied with efficiently. In addition, CHA urges EPA to delay the effective date of the final rule to no earlier than one year from its release. CHA believes that state agencies need additional time to understand the opportunities and challenges these new policies present, and develop resources to educate hospitals and health care facilities on compliance. Comments on the proposed rule are due Dec. 24.
CHA Issues Detailed Summary of CJR Final Rule
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
CHA has issued the attached detailed summary, prepared by Health Policy Alternatives, Inc., on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) final rule implementing the Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement (CJR) payment model. The summary is in addition to the previously issued executive summary of key provisions. CMS has finalized the start date for this program as April 1, 2016, a slight delay from the proposed start date of Jan. 1, 2016. The model will require participation from inpatient prospective payment system hospitals in three California metropolitan statistical areas: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim (Orange County and Los Angeles County); Modesto (Stanislaus County); and San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward (Alameda County, Contra Costa County, San Francisco County, San Mateo County and Marin County). A complete list of hospitals CMS believes to be subject to the CJR program is also attached.
CHA Issues Summary of Home Health PPS Final Rule
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
CHA has released the attached summary, prepared by Health Policy Alternatives, Inc., detailing the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) final rule for the calendar (CY) year 2016 home health prospective payment system. The final rule implements payment and policy changes that take effect Jan. 1, 2016. Additionally, CMS finalizes implementation of a home health value-based purchasing model in nine states, not including California. CMS estimates that the final rule will reduce home health payments by a net $380 million, or negative 1.4 percent, in CY 2016.
CMS also responded to comments submitted in response to the proposed rule by stakeholders, including CHA, and made a few modifications to its proposals. Most notably, CMS will phase in the nominal case mix adjustment over three years, rather than two.
CHA Issues First-Glance Summary of CJR Model Final Rule
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
CHA has prepared the attached first-glance summary of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) final rule implementing the Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement (CJR) payment model. As noted when the rule was issued, CMS has finalized the start date for this program to April 1, 2016, a slight delay from the proposed start date of Jan. 1, 2016. The model will require participation from inpatient prospective payment system hospitals in three California metropolitan statistical areas, as proposed.
CMS to Host Webinar on CCJR Model Final Rule
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
Yesterday the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued its final rule implementing the Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement model, set to begin April 1, 2016. Acute care hospitals in certain selected geographic areas, including three in California, will receive retrospective bundled payments for episodes of care for hip and knee replacements. The CMS Innovation Center will host a webinar, offered on two dates, to describe the final rule and respond to questions. Online registration for the Nov. 19 and Nov. 30 webinars is now available. CMS urges early registration, as large audiences are expected.
CMS Issues CJR Model Final Rule
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued the attached final rule implementing the Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement (CJR) model, in which acute care hospitals in certain selected geographic areas, including three in California, will receive retrospective bundled payments for episodes of care for hip and knee replacements. In response to comments from CHA and other stakeholders, CMS has delayed the date of the first performance period until April 1, 2016, rather than Jan. 1 as proposed.
EPA Issues Proposed Rules Regarding Hazardous Waste at Health Care Facilities
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued the attached proposed rules regarding hazardous waste generators and the disposal of pharmaceuticals. The hazardous waste generator improvement proposed rule is intended to enhance the safety of facilities, employees and the general public by improving hazardous waste labeling, as well as emergency planning and preparedness. The EPA states the proposed rule would simplify current federal regulations and provide greater flexibility in how facilities and employees manage their hazardous waste. In addition, the proposed hazardous waste pharmaceuticals rule would prohibit health care facilities from flushing hazardous waste pharmaceuticals down sinks and toilets. The EPA notes that the rule is intended to reduce the burden on health care workers and pharmacists working in health care facilities by creating regulations specific to these facilities, including hospitals, clinics, and retail stores with pharmacies and reverse distributors that generate hazardous waste.
CMS Issues Final Rule With Comment Period on Access to Covered Medicaid Services
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued a final rule with comment period that aims to allow states and CMS to make better informed, data-driven decisions when considering whether proposed changes to Medicaid fee-for-service payment rates are sufficient to ensure that Medicaid beneficiaries have access to covered Medicaid services. The final rule also intends to strengthen CMS’ ability to review Medicaid payment rates to ensure they are consistent with efficiency, economy and quality of care, as well as ensure sufficient beneficiary access to care under the Medicaid program. CMS also issued a Request for Information (RFI) to gather input into additional approaches that it and states may consider to better ensure compliance with Medicaid access requirements. The RFI asks for comments on the potential development of standardized core set measures of access, access measures for long-term care and home and community-based services, national access to care thresholds, and resolution processes that beneficiaries could use when they have problems accessing essential health care services.
