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
HCAI Releases Policy Intent, Code Application Notices
What’s happening: The Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI) has released policy intent notices (PIN) on steel quality and quality control, and code application notices (CAN) for nurse stations and self-contained medication dispensing units (MDUs).
What else to know: Issued by HCAI’s Office of Statewide Hospital Planning and Development, these new policies and code changes aim to streamline, outline, and clarify various aspects of hospital operations.
OHCA Board Selects a New Chair, Deliberates Over Hospital Sector Targets and More
What’s happening: At its most recent meeting, the Office of Health Care Affordability (OHCA) board elected Kim Johnson, secretary of the California Health and Human Services Agency, as its new chair — and considered potential adoption of hospital sector targets, a provisional approach to measuring hospital spending, and a proposal for tracking quality and equity.
What else to know: Ahead of the meeting, CHA wrote to the board on these topics, urging further learning and progress toward implementation before adopting sector targets; supporting a comprehensive yet streamlined approach to measuring quality, equity, and access; and asking that the behavioral health investment goal consider the full continuum of behavioral health services.
2025 ESRD PPS Final Rule Members-Only Summary Available Now
What’s happening: A members-only summary of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ calendar year (CY) 2025 end-stage renal disease (ESRD) prospective payment system (PPS) final rule, prepared by Health Policy Alternatives, Inc., is available.
What else to know: The regulation is effective Jan. 1, 2025.
Members-Only Summary on CMS 2025 Home Health PPS Final Rule Now Available
What’s happening: A summary of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ calendar year (CY) 2025 home health (HH) prospective payment system (PPS) final rule, prepared by Health Policy Alternatives, Inc., is available solely to CHA members.
What else to know: The regulation is effective Jan. 1, 2025.
CHA Member Alert: Urge Congress to Eliminate Medicaid DSH Payment Reductions
What’s happening: Reductions in Medicaid disproportionate share hospital (DSH) payments to states are scheduled to take effect on Jan. 1. If these cuts go into effect, California hospitals would lose $1.2 billion in 2025.
What else to know: CHA is urging members to contact their Congressional representatives before Dec. 6 and ask them to sign a bipartisan letter requesting that House leadership prevent the cuts.
Updated California Results Relevant to Hospitals
What’s happening: As ballots from more than 16 million Californians continue to be counted, state and congressional races are coming into focus.
What else to know: Though the election was more than two weeks ago, the winners of some key races have yet to be decided.
Register for Upcoming DataGen Webinar on CY 2025 OPPS Final Rule
What’s happening: On Dec. 5 at noon (PT), a DataGen webinar will share an overview of and the calendar year 2025 outpatient prospective payment system (OPPS) final rule and analysis. What else to know: CHA encourages members to register for this webinar.
Letter Highlights Challenges CA Hospitals Face Receiving COVID-19 Relief Funds
What’s happening: On Nov. 18, CHA sent a letter to the California congressional delegation about outstanding COVID-19 relief funds owed to California hospitals and the challenges they have had getting funds obligated from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
What else to know: Also on Nov. 18, President Joe Biden sent Congress a $100 billion emergency supplemental funding request, which includes money for FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund and called on members to approve the package for recent and past disasters.
CHA Outlines Year-End Federal Legislative Health Care Priorities
What’s happening: In a Nov. 18 letter to the California congressional delegation, CHA outlined legislative priorities for the remainder of the 118th Congress — which must act by Dec. 20 to fund the federal government.
What else to know: It is likely that some health care extensions and policies could be a part of Congress’ funding package.
With Thanks in Our Hearts
“We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures.” — Thornton Wilder, playwright
