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
Improvements Announced for Medicare Recovery Audit Contractor Program
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) this week announced a number of improvements to the Medicare Recovery Audit Contractor (RAC) Program, seeking to reduce providers’ burden by better targeting program integrity efforts.
Governor’s Revised Budget Makes Important Coverage Investments, Fails to Include Vital Medi-Cal Funding
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
Yesterday, CHA issued a news release on Gov. Newsom’s revised 2019-20 state budget. CHA applauds the Governor for making investments that improve Californians’ health and well-being, including: ongoing support for expanding Medi-Cal coverage to young adults, regardless of immigration status; imposing a state-level individual coverage mandate; broader premium subsidies for low and middle-income families; and significant investments in behavioral health.
Assisted Living Waiver Renewal Approved
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
On Feb. 28, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) approved the Home- and Community-Based Services Assisted Living Waiver (ALW) renewal, effective March 1, 2019, through Feb. 28, 2024. The renewal includes 2,000 slots added in the CMS-approved amendment from October 2018, for a total capacity of 5,744.
UnitedHealthcare Delays Change to Sepsis Review Policy Following CHA Advocacy
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
In a May 3 letter to CHA, UnitedHealthcare (UHC) announced it will temporarily suspend implementation of its new sepsis review policy in California until Nov. 1. The delay — a result of CHA’s advocacy on the issue — is intended to allow additional time to work through administrative and other issues that are unique to the California market, in particular due to California hospitals’ prevalent use of full-risk, capitated, delegated network arrangements.
May 20 Marks Comment Deadline for DMHC Draft Implementation Guidance on Licensure Regulation
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
The Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC) has released draft guidance and accompanying forms — a confidentiality request form and an expedited exemption request form — related to its Knox-Keene licensure regulation. The regulation, among other things, defines various types of risk and requires entities that assume any amount of global risk to either obtain a license under the Knox-Keene Health Care Service Plan Act of 1975 or receive an exemption from DMHC.
CHA Advocacy Alert on Patient Protection Bill Urges Removal of Unnecessary Default Payment Rate
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
Yesterday, CHA issued an Advocacy Alert on Assembly Bill 1611 (Chiu, D-San Francisco), which would protect patients from balance billing for emergency services. CHA supports the elements of the bill that would protect patients. However, the bill as currently written would also impose a default out-of-network reimbursement rate that will ultimately incentivize health insurance companies to avoid contracting with hospitals, driving reimbursement rates below the cost of care. CHA remains opposed to this bill unless it is amended to remove the default rate.
CHA Issues Summaries of IRF, SNF, Hospice PPS Proposed Rules
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
CHA has issued three summaries, prepared by Health Policy Alternatives, of federal fiscal year 2020 prospective payment system (PPS) proposed rules recently released by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services: the inpatient rehabilitation facility (IRF) PPS, the skilled-nursing facility (SNF) PPS, and the hospice PPS.
Comments on the IRF rule are due June 17, and comments on the SNF and hospice rules are due June 18. CHA reminds members to register for an upcoming member forum that will address key provisions of the SNF and IRF proposed rules.
CHA Provides Update on EEO-1 Reporting Obligations
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
On April 23, CHA reported that the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s (EEOC) revised data reporting requirements could result in a directive for employers to submit EEO-1 pay data for 2017 and 2018 as soon as May 31. However, on April 25 the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia ruled that the EEOC may have until Sept. 30 to collect that data.
Webinars Begin Next Week on New Opioid Safety Designation for Hospitals
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
Cal Hospital Compare, a nonprofit performance reporting initiative, will launch an opioid safety designation program for hospitals later this month, intended to accelerate improvement and recognize California hospitals’ efforts to combat the opioid epidemic. A series of five no-cost webinars — the first to be held May 9 at 11 a.m. (PT) – will explain a self-assessment tool integral to the new designation, and will feature peer-to-peer learning on a variety of safe opioid practices.
New Tool Shows Regional Health Care Cost and Quality Benchmarks
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
New research suggests that risk sharing appears to offer better value than fee-for-service arrangements. The California Regional Health Care Cost and Quality Atlas shows wide variance in quality and cost across California based on 2017 performance data for provider risk sharing arrangements; accountable care organizations; large, small, and self-insured employers; individually insured members; and commercial health maintenance organizations and preferred provider organizations.
