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 Submits Comment Letter on Cardiac EPM and CJR Expansion Proposed Rule
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
CHA has submitted the attached comment letter on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed rule implementing episode payment models (EPMs) for cardiac care and expanding the current comprehensive care for joint replacement (CJR) model to include surgical treatments for hip and femur fractures (SHFFT) beyond hip replacement.
CJR Episode Payment Model Training Is Oct. 25 in Los Angeles
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
CHA has developed a seminar to help participating hospitals and their staff understand the clinical and financial risks associated with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement (CJR) program. Implementing CJR —Strategies for Success will be held on Oct. 25 from 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. in Los Angeles.
The nationwide mandatory episode payment model, which took effect April 1, impacts 135 California hospitals in three metropolitan service areas. The Implementing CJR—Strategies for Success seminar will provide participants with the knowledge needed to manage patient care, foster physician alignment and develop effective partnerships with post-acute care providers. The program features state and national faculty, each with an area of expertise in episode care payment models. Session topics include: CJR program overview; using data to identify opportunities and risks; creating or strengthening your post-acute care strategy; legal considerations including collaborator agreements, gainsharing and program waivers; and planning for CJR implementation in your facility.
Learn Implementation Strategies for CJR Episode Payment Model
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement (CJR) is a nationwide mandatory episode payment model impacting 135 California hospitals in three metropolitan service areas. The program was effective April 1.
To help participating hospitals and their staff understand the clinical and financial risks associated with the program, CHA developed the Implementing CJR — Strategies for Success seminar. The program will be held on Oct. 25 from 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. in Los Angeles.
This comprehensive program will provide participants with the knowledge needed to manage patient care, foster physician alignment and develop effective partnerships with post-acute care providers.
CHA Issues Comments on MOON Proposed Form, Instructions
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CHA has submitted the attached draft comment letter on the proposed Medicare Outpatient Observation Notice (MOON) form and its instructions. The MOON fulfills the Notice of Observation Treatment and Implication for Care Eligibility (NOTICE) Act’s requirement that hospitals and critical access hospitals provide written and oral notification to all Medicare-eligible beneficiaries receiving observation services as outpatients for more than 24 hours. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is accepting comments on the updated MOON and instructions through Sept. 1.
In the letter, CHA strongly urges several changes, including changing the free-text box that requires hospitals to complete the statement “you are not an inpatient because…” to a standardized statement about observation status. In addition, CHA urges a delay in implementation and/or enforcement to ensure hospitals have ample time to train staff, update procedures and integrate the form into electronic health records.
UNOS Proposes Changes to Liver Transplant Regions
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The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) has proposed changes to the geographic regions for liver transplants to better match organ supply with demand and make access more equitable. UNOS proposes establishing eight liver distribution districts nationwide, instead of the current 11, to create a better balance between organ availability and the number of patients waiting.
CHA believes that the current organ transplantation system, which arbitrarily favors certain zip codes and those with financial means, must be reformed to make the process more equitable.
OMB Accepting Comments on Updated MOON Through Sept. 1
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) will accept comments on the updated Medicare Outpatient Observation Notice (MOON) and instructions through Sept. 1. The fiscal year 2017 inpatient prospective payment system final rule implemented the Notice of Observation Treatment and Implication for Care Eligibility (NOTICE) Act, which requires hospitals and critical access hospitals to provide written and oral notification to Medicare beneficiaries receiving observation services as outpatients for more than 24 hours. Under the final rule, the notification requirements will take effect no later than 90 calendar days after the updated MOON is approved by OMB.CHA will host a member forum on Aug. 23 from 10-11 a.m. (PT) to discuss the proposed notice and development of CHA’s comments. To register for the forum, select “Read more.”
FDA Releases Guidance on Insanitary Compounding
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The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued draft guidance on insanitary compounding, attached below. The goal of the FDA’s guidance is help drug compounding facilities identify insanitary conditions, which can result in serious harm to patients. Comments on the draft guidance are due on October, 3 2016.
CHA Submits Letter to HHS Calling for Liver Allocation Reform
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In the attached letter to Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Sylvia Burwell, CHA emphasizes the ongoing geographic disparities in access to liver transplantation. The current liver allocation methodology, which is based on 58 local donation service areas (DSAs), puts Californians seeking livers at a significant disadvantage compared to patients in other parts of the nation. California transplants 27 liver patients per 100 patient years of waitlist time, though the national rate is 42 patients per 100 patient years. CHA believes that the current organ transplantation system, which arbitrarily favors certain zip codes and those with financial means, must be reformed to make the process more equitable. CHA calls on HHS to adopt the United Network for Organ Sharing’s policy recommendations, which would consolidate the 58 DSAs into four to eight sharing districts, with each district containing at least six liver transplant centers and a maximum median transplant-volume-weighted transport time between DSAs of no more than three hours.
CHA Provides Step-by-Step Examples of CJR Model Payment Methodology
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
CHA has prepared the attached slide deck that provides a step-by-step understanding of the payment methodology for the Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement (CJR) model. The slides include illustrative examples of how hypothetical hospitals would perform for reconciliation payments. CHA encourages members participating in the CJR model to review the slides, as well as other program resources CHA has made available at www.calhospital.org/resource/cjr-payment-model-final-rule-resources.
CHA Submits Comment Letter on Proposed Part B Prescription Drug Demonstration
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
CHA has submitted the attached comment letter on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) proposed rule that would test new mandatory Medicare payment models for covered Part B prescription drugs provided in physician offices, hospital outpatient departments and certain drugs furnished through durable medical equipment (DME). While CHA appreciates that CMS is paying attention to the growing national crisis of rising drug prices, we believe the proposed demonstration will have unintended consequences — namely, incentivizing inappropriate shifts in care settings for beneficiaries and overpaying for low-cost drugs. CHA urges CMS to exclude hospital outpatient departments from the demonstration, scale back the size and scope of phase one of the demonstration, and propose phase two of the demonstration through a formal regulatory process with notice and comment. CHA urges members to use the comment letter to inform and submit their own comments. Comments are due May 9 by 2 p.m. (PT) and can be submitted at www.regulations.gov.
