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
DHCS Granted 60-Day Extension to Revise Hospital Fee Program 9 Application
What’s happening: The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) has until March 13 to submit a revised 2025 Hospital Quality Assurance Fee Program application to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), following questions CMS raised about the program’s size.
Positive News and Looming Threats from the Nation’s Capital
Federal lawmakers are back in Washington, D.C., this week with just over three weeks left to finish funding the government before current spending laws run out on Jan. 30.
Summaries Available for CY 2026 Home Health, End-Stage Renal Disease Payment Final Rules
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
What’s happening: Summaries of the calendar year (CY) 2026 home health prospective payment system (PPS) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) PPS final rules are available for CHA members.
CA Medical Board Reminds Providers of Three-Day Rule for Narcotic Prescriptions
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
What’s happening: The Medical Board of California has distributed its annual notice reminding prescribers that, under federal law, certain authorized practitioners may dispense a three-day supply of Schedule II medications in emergency situations in order to initiate maintenance or detoxification treatment.
Summary of CY 2026 PFS Final Rule Includes Impact Analysis for 100+ Medicare Specialties
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
What’s happening: A summary of the calendar year (CY) 2026 physician fee schedule (PFS) final rule is available for CHA members.
EMSA Approves Specialty Designation Regulations, Highlights Continued APOT Reduction Challenges
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
What’s happening: At its quarterly meeting last week, the Commission on Emergency Medical Services reviewed ongoing implementation challenges related to Assembly Bill (AB) 40’s ambulance patient offload time (APOT) requirements, under which hospitals must submit APOT reduction protocols annually.
Reflection, Contemplation, and Gratitude
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
“We all get the exact same 365 days. The only difference is what we do with them.” — Hillary DePiano
OHCA Board Continues Aggressive Enforcement Planning, Signals Spending Targets Won’t be Changed
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
What’s happening: The Office of Health Care Affordability’s (OHCA’s) board met on December 17 to discuss several issues, including enforcement of and updated data related to the spending targets, as well as the office’s recent work to develop a methodology for measuring hospital spending.
CMS Proposes Changes to MA and Part D Star Ratings for Contract Year 2027
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
What’s happening: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued the contract year 2027 proposed rule for Medicare Advantage (MA) and Part D plans.
CMS Updates Hospital Surveyor Guidance to Address Discharge Planning, Notification Requirements, and More
This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.
What’s happening: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has revised Appendix A of the State Operations Manual to include new interpretive guidelines and survey processes.
