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
CDPH Seeks Input on Reporting Unusual Occurrences
What’s happening: The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Center for Health Care Quality (CHCQ) is seeking public comment from long-term care facilities, including skilled-nursing facilities, on regulations for reporting unusual occurrences. For more information, refer to All Facilities Letter 25-11.
What else to know: CHCQ seeks input on several topics, including definitions, reporting processes, and requirements for documentation. Comments are due by April 7 and can be submitted to the CHCQ Regulation Development Section at CHCQRegulations@cdph.ca.gov
March 12 Webinar Will Detail New HQI Program to Support Mandatory Health Equity Reporting
What’s happening: The Hospital Quality Institute (HQI) has released a new reporting service, as part of its Hospital Quality Improvement Platform (HQIP), that includes 95% of the information hospitals are required to report by Sept. 30.
What else to know: More information about the requirements — created under Assembly Bill 1204 (Statutes of 2021) — and HQI’s solution will be shared at a webinar on March 12. This webinar is the first of a four-part series; more information can be found on HQI’s website.
2025 HR Conference Wraps, Planning for 2026 Begins
What’s happening: On Feb. 19-20, more than 100 human resources (HR) professionals gathered in Long Beach for the 2025 HR Conference — where experts offered sage advice, answered questions, and provided best practices on recruitment and retention, artificial intelligence (AI), and more.
What else to know: Co-hosted by CHA and the Hospital Association of Southern California, this was the first in-person HR Conference since 2019 — and planning for the 2026 HR Conference has already begun.
CMS Publishes Progress Report on Review Choice Demonstration for Inpatient Rehabilitation Services, Shares ‘Helpful Hints’
What’s happening: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has posted to its website a report on the ongoing Review Choice Demonstration for Inpatient Rehabilitation Services (IRF RCD) — a program currently in Alabama and Pennsylvania that will expand to California in the future, though a specific time frame has not yet been established.
What else to know: Based on IRF RCD results to date, CMS has released a Helpful Hints document that could assist California providers, as it includes reasons a claim might not be affirmed, as well as best practices that may help avoid non-affirmations.
CDPH Issues Guidance on Skilled-Nursing Facility Reporting for Resident Payer Source
What’s happening: The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has issued All Facilities Letter (AFL) 25-10, which implements new requirements for skilled-nursing facilities (SNFs) and strengthens the prohibition against facility discrimination based on a resident’s payment source, as enacted in Senate Bill 1354. What else to know: Effective Jan. 1, Medi-Cal participating SNFs must make publicly […]
New CDPH All Facilities Letters Provide Additional Guidance for General Acute Care, Psychiatric Hospitals
What’s happening: On Feb. 24, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) released four new All Facilities Letters (AFLs) on laws that became effective Jan. 1. These AFLs affect general acute care and acute psychiatric hospitals, and other health care facilities.
What else to know: For more information, visit the CDPH’s web page.
DHCS Shares Flexibilities for Hospitals in Light of Los Angeles Fires
What’s happening: On Feb. 4, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an executive order that removed certain barriers to expedite relief for survivors of the Los Angeles fires. The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) has also extended audit-related administrative flexibilities due to the fire and has shared with CHA highlights of these flexibilities that may affect hospitals.
What else to know: The executive order extends deadlines for health care providers to submit requests to DHCS for scope of service changes. Additional details about these and the DHCS audit-related administrative flexibilities are outlined in this document.
OHCA Faces Tough Questions from Lawmakers, Hospitals
What’s happening: In a March 3 hearing, members of the Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Health pressed Office of Health Care Affordability (OHCA) leadership to answer questions on the impact its statewide and hospital-sector targets will have on patient care.
What else to know: During the hearing’s public comment portion, nearly 20 hospitals and health care organizations voiced their concerns with OHCA’s failure to account for the cost drivers and expenses that hospitals face and shared how these targets will negatively affect patient care.
Court Agrees with Key CHA Arguments in Anthem Lawsuit But Will Not Hear Rest of Case
What’s happening: A Los Angeles Superior Court Judge has ruled on CHA’s lawsuit against Anthem Blue Cross, finding that it is the responsibility of health plans to arrange for and transition to post-acute care services for their members.
What else to know: Despite finding in favor of CHA on key points, the judge nonetheless decided to “abstain” from further involvement in the case.
State Legislative Landscape Starts to Come Into Focus
A little more than two weeks ago, the deadline passed for California lawmakers to introduce bills for this year’s legislative session. In all, some 2,350 bills are in play this year — a number in line with historical trends.
