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 Comments on Direct Provider Contracting Model Request for Information
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
CHA has prepared the attached comment letter on a potential alternative payment model that would allow direct provider contracting between payers and primary care or multi-specialty groups within the Medicare fee-for-service, Medicare Advantage and Medicaid programs. Responding to a request for information from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), CHA’s comments provide a number of guiding principles for the development of alternative payment models, including some specific considerations for direct provider contracting models. In addition, CHA urges CMS to carefully review additional comments submitted by providers in California, who for decades have been leaders in managing primary and specialty care through multiple public and private sector initiatives. Members are encouraged to use CHA’s letter to develop their own comment letters, due May 25.
CHA Submits Joint Letter on Medicaid Access to Care Monitoring Requirements
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
The California Hospital Association, the California Association of Public Hospitals and Health Systems, Private Essential Access Community Hospitals, Inc., the California Children’s Hospital Association and the District Hospital Leadership Forum have submitted the attached joint letter on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed rule on fee-for-service access to care monitoring requirements within the Medicaid program. The proposed rule would amend the process by which states document whether Medicaid payments in fee-for-service (FFS) systems are sufficient to enlist providers to assure beneficiary access to covered care and services consistent with existing statute.
In the letter, the organizations oppose an exemption from the FFS access standards, regardless of the managed care penetration rate, as it eliminates safeguards that promote a more transparent data-driven process. The letter also outlines concerns with proposals related to an exemption for states with high managed care enrollment, exemptions for nominal rate reductions, relief from public notice of rate reductions and the need for greater CMS oversight of state Medicaid programs.
Comments on the proposed rule are due by 2 p.m. (PT) on May 22.
Trump Administration Releases Blueprint to Lower Drug Prices
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President Trump last week released a blueprint that identifies immediate actions and further opportunities within federal payment programs to lower drug prices. In releasing the blueprint, officials from the Department of Health and Human Services identified four major goals:
Addressing the increase in list prices of drugs Maximizing the potential of government programs and private payers to leverage negotiating power Tackling high out-of-pocket costs Ensuring the practices of foreign markets are not disadvantaging American innovation
The Blueprint to Lower Drug Prices and Reduce Out-of-Pocket Costs calls for greater transparency of drug prices, better informing consumers about prescription drugs, promoting the use of generic drugs and experimenting with value-based payment through the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation. CHA is reviewing the blueprint’s policy proposals and anticipates additional rulemaking and subregulatory guidance to be released over the coming weeks. Today, the department released a request for information seeking stakeholder feedback to “to help shape future policy development and agency action.” Future member engagement on these important policy issues is likely.
CMS Seeks Information on Direct Provider Contracting
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The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) this week issued the attached request for information on a potential alternative payment model that would allow direct provider contracting between payers and primary care or multi-specialty groups within the Medicare fee-for-service, Medicare Advantage and Medicaid programs. The model would differ from existing primary care models, allowing practices to take on two-sided financial risk. Under the potential model, CMS would pay a fixed per-beneficiary, per-month payment to cover a range of services, allowing flexibility in the delivery of other billable services. Practices would also be eligible for performance-based incentives for total cost of care and quality. CMS seeks comments on provider experience with direct provider contracting and how this model could be used to reduce expenditures and preserve or enhance the quality of care for Medicare, Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program beneficiaries. Comments are due May 25.
Emergency Department Toolkit
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
Special resource toolkit developed by CHA’s EMS/Trauma Committee and the Center for Behavioral Health. Designed to help staff provide support to patients in the ED with psychosis and/or substance abuse disorders, this toolkit provides access to articles, policies, management techniques, assessment tools and more. Click the topic tabs below to access resources and information.
CMS Proposes Regulation to Alleviate State Burden
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently issued a proposed rule that would provide states with greater flexibility in how they meet access to care requirements within the Medicaid program.
The proposed rule addresses concerns associated with the 2015 final rule — which CHA commented on — that requires states proposing to reduce or restructure Medicaid fee-for-service payment rates to collect data through an Access Monitoring Review Plan and solicit input on the potential impact on beneficiaries’ access to care.
CMS proposes to exempt states with an overall Medicaid managed care penetration rate of 85 percent or greater from most fee-for-service access monitoring requirements; California’s current Medi-Cal managed care penetration rate is 80 percent.
CMS Provides Updates for Post-Acute Care Quality Reporting
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) regularly provides important updates about post-acute care quality reporting programs, including training opportunities, public reporting details and reminders of data submission and review deadlines. Following are the recent updates for inpatient rehabilitation facilities, long-term care hospitals and hospice providers:
Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities Provider Preview Reports Provider preview reports are now available for inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRFs). IRFs have until April 5, 2018, to review their performance on quality measures based on data from quarter 3 of 2016 to quarter 2 of 2017, prior to their posting to the IRF Compare website in June 2018. Access instructions for the provider reports are available online. Corrections to the underlying data will not be permitted during this time. However, providers can request review by CMS during the preview period if they believe their data are inaccurate.
CHA Responds to Request for Information on Revised Clinical Laboratory Regulations
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
CHA has submitted the attached comment letter in response to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) request for information on revisions to the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 regulations. CMS — in consultation with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, state surveyors and other stakeholders – has identified a number of areas within the regulations that could be updated to better reflect current knowledge, changes in academic context and advancements in laboratory testing.
In the letter, CHA urges CMS to adopt regulations that provide the most flexibility for laboratory directors to make personnel decisions that address their workforce needs, based on an individual’s experience and educational background. CHA also supports giving CMS a greater level of discretion for Category 1 proficiency testing referral violations, particularly when sanctions are applied for laboratories following their standard operating procedures. In addition, CHA supports the recommendations of the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments Advisory Committee Virtual Crossmatch Workgroup to update histocompatibility regulations, reflecting advancements in the field. Comments on the request for information are due March 12.
CHA DataSuite Releases Medicare Cost Report Model Update
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
CHA DataSuite has issued the fourth quarter 2017 update of the Medicare cost report model, which provides hospitals with commonly sought after data elements from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Healthcare Cost Report Information System database. The model highlights hospital utilization data, inpatient and outpatient data, overall hospital statistics and uncompensated care data.
Worksheets include:
S-3 Part I – utilization data S-10 – uncompensated care data G-3 – overall revenue and expense data E Part A – hospital inpatient data E Part B – hospital outpatient data E-3 Part V – critical access hospital inpatient services data E-4 – hospital direct graduate medical education and end stage renal disease outpatient direct medical education data
CMS Provides Updates for Post-Acute Care Quality Reporting
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) regularly provides important updates about post-acute care quality reporting programs, including training opportunities, public reporting, and reminders of data submission and review deadlines.
Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities
Data Submission Deadline Approaching Assessment data for the Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility Patient Assessment Instrument (IRF PAI) and data submitted to CMS via the Center for Disease Control and Prevention National Healthcare Safety Network for July-September (Q3) of calendar year 2017 are due no later than 11:59 (PT) on Feb. 15.
Long-Term Acute Care Hospitals
Data Submission Deadline Approaching Assessment data for the Long-Term Care Hospital Continuity Assessment Record and Evaluation (LTCH CARE) and data submitted to CMS via the Center for Disease Control and Prevention National Healthcare Safety Network for July-September (Q3) of calendar year 2017 are due no later than 11:59 (PT) on Feb. 15.
Training Materials from the December 2017 Long-Term Care Hospital Quality Reporting Program provider training are now available under “Related Links” on CMS’ dedicated long-term care hospital web page.
