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
CARB Updates Deadlines, Provides Additional Clarity Around Reporting Requirements
What’s happening: At a workshop last month, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) offered important clarifications on upcoming climate change reporting regulations — including that not-for-profit entities will not recommended as “covered entities.”
DHCS Requests Comments on Plan Policies for SNF, Subacute Authorization and Payment by Friday
What is happening: The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) is requesting feedback by Dec. 5 on draft all plan letters addressing updated policies for Medi-Cal managed care plan (MCP) coverage of skilled-nursing, subacute care , and intermediate care facility services.
CMS Repeals Minimum Staffing Standards for Skilled-Nursing Facilities
What’s happening: On Dec. 2, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services issued an interim final rule that repeals minimum staffing standards for long-term care facilities, which were finalized in 2024.
Some Psychiatric Hospitals See Uptick in Requests to Admit Former State Hospital Patients
What’s happening: Acute psychiatric hospitals and units located in Sonoma and Orange counties have recently reported increased local pressure to admit individuals who local courts have placed on a “Murphy” conservatorship following treatment in a state hospital.
House Passes Five-Year Extension of Hospital-at-Home Program
What’s happening: On Dec. 1, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the CHA-supported Hospital Inpatient Services Modernization Act (H.R. 4313) which would extend the Hospital-at-Home program for five years, through Sept. 30, 2030.
Health Care Worker Right to Vote Measure Heads to Signature-Gathering Phase
Earlier this week, CHA’s sponsored ballot measure — The Health Care Union Transparency, Accountability & Union Member Right to Vote Act — received its official “Title and Summary” from the state Office of the Attorney General.
DHCS Releases Private Hospital-Directed Payment Encounter Files — Download by Jan. 5
What’s happening: On Nov. 21, the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) uploaded three new hospital-directed payment encounter files, available via the Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP) site. The SFTP site is not intended for long-term storage, so files will be deleted Jan. 5, 2026.
CDPH Releases Resources to Support Patient Safety Plan Submission Ahead of Jan. 1 Implementation
What’s happening: Last week, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) released an All Facilities Letter (AFL) reminding providers of upcoming patient safety plan requirements, passed as part of Assembly Bill (AB) 3161 in 2024.
CMS to Decrease Home Health Payments 1.3% in 2026
What’s happening: On Nov. 28, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued the calendar year (CY) 2026 home health prospective payment system final rule.
New State Initiative Aims to Lower Healthcare-Associated Infections
What’s happening: Covered California, Cal Healthcare Compare, and CalPERS — with support from state agencies, health plans, hospitals, and improvement organizations — have joined forces in a new collaborative that aims to create a statewide framework for quality alignment and improvement in hospitals across California.
