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 Will Host Webinar on Mandatory Bundled Payment Model
What’s happening: CHA will host a complimentary, members-only webinar on May 1 at noon (PT) to discuss the mandatory bundled payment model proposed by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Registration is open.
What else to know: CMS proposed the Transforming Episode Accountability Model (TEAM), which will hold selected hospitals accountable for the cost and quality of certain surgical procedures.
Ballot Initiative Would Dedicate MCO Tax Revenue to Fund Medi-Cal
What’s happening: The Coalition to Protect Access to Care has submitted more than 800,000 voter signatures to qualify the Protect Access to Healthcare initiative for California’s November 2024 ballot.
What else to know: CHA supports the proposed ballot measure, which would permanently channel managed care organization (MCO) tax revenue to Medi-Cal providers such as hospitals, physicians, women’s health and community clinics, and health centers.
CMS Finalizes Medicaid Managed Care Rule on Access, Finance, and Quality
What’s happening: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized the Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program Managed Care Access, Finance, and Quality rule.
What else to know: The rule finalizes significant changes and clarifications regarding managed care delivery and finance.
Hospital Leaders Discuss Financial Challenges with Legislators on Capitol Hill
What’s happening: Last week, California hospital and health system leaders convened in Washington, D.C. for the American Hospital Association (AHA) Annual Membership Meeting.
What else to know: Hospital and health system leaders participated in meetings on Capitol Hill with the California congressional delegation to advance CHA’s position on key advocacy priorities.
CMS Finalizes Skilled-Nursing Facility Staffing Standards
What’s happening: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a final rule establishing new staffing standards for long-term care facilities, including skilled-nursing facilities (SNFs) and SNFs operated as distinct-part units of acute care hospitals.
What else to know: The regulations are effective June 21. Compliance with overall ratios is required beginning May 2026.
Environmental Protection Agency Releases Final Rule to Reduce Ethylene Oxide Emissions by 90%
What’s happening: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a final rule limiting carcinogen ethylene oxide (EtO) emissions for commercial medical device sterilization facilities. According to EPA, the new rule is intended to lower the cancer risk in communities surrounding these facilities to below the benchmark safety threshold.
What else to know: Hospitals and medical device suppliers have raised concerns that the updated regulations could cause a supply chain disruption for certain medical devices because many medical devices are sterilized with EtO. The new rule addresses these concerns while maintaining the goal of overall reduction of EtO emissions by 90%.
OHCA Board Adopts First Statewide Spending Target: 3.5%, Ramping Down to 3%
What’s happening: On Wednesday, the Office of Health Care Affordability (OHCA) board approved a five-year statewide health care spending growth target for 2025 through 2029.
What else to know: While the adoption of the target represents a major milestone, much more work will be needed to encourage the target’s regular reevaluation and clarify its enforcement.
Big Week for State Health Policy Advocacy
This week, all four of CHA’s state advocacy priorities converged in Sacramento, with significant developments on each. Sharing a brief recap of this week’s activities and next steps.
CHA DataSuite Releases FFY 2025 Medicare Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility Proposed Rule Analysis
What’s happening: CHA DataSuite issued a hospital-specific analysis of the federal fiscal year (FFY) 2025 Medicare inpatient rehabilitation facility proposed rule analysis.
What else to know: The analysis is intended to show hospitals how Medicare fee-for-service payments would change from FFY 2024 to FFY 2025 based on the policies set forth in the proposed rule.
HRSA Implements Long-Awaited Dispute Resolution Process
What’s happening: The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) finalized requirements and procedures for the 340B Drug Discount Program’s administrative dispute resolution (ADR) process.
What else to know: The regulation is effective June 18.
