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
Medi-Cal Managed Care Plans Receive Private Hospital Directed Payment Funding
What’s happening: During the week of Feb. 26, Medi-Cal managed care plans received the funds related to Hospital Fee Program 7, Private Hospital Directed Payment (PHDP) Cycle 1. In January, hospitals and Medi-Cal managed care plans also received their payment schedules, which detail the amount each health plan is directed to pay and to which hospitals.
What else to know: Health plans are required to make these payments to hospitals within 30 days of receipt of the funds. Hospitals that have not yet received their PHDP funds should reach out to their health plans for a status update. Hospitals that still have not received the PHDP funding by the end of March should contact Robert Ducay, vice president, policy, at rducay@calhospital.org.
DHCS Scheduled to Release Medi-Cal Managed Care Utilization Data to Health Plans and Hospitals
What’s happening: On March 8, the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) released the latest round of Medi-Cal managed care utilization data to hospitals and health plans. These data are used to determine the amount of funding each hospital will receive in the Private Hospital Directed Payment Program.
What else to know: Hospitals should download their data from the DHCS secure site as soon as possible because uploaded files will be deleted within 45 days. Hospitals should compare these data to their own utilization records and work with their contracted Medi-Cal managed care plans to reconcile any differences in order to get full credit and payment for contracted services provided during the program period. Medi-Cal managed care plans have approximately five weeks to return the data to DHCS. The uploaded files cover the following service periods:
CHA Participates in DHCS Population Health Management Summit
What’s happening: CHA recently participated in the Population Health Management Transitional Care Services Summit hosted by the Department of Health Care Services.
What else to know: The summit provided an opportunity for Medi-Cal Managed Care leaders to provide updates on the implementation of transitional care services and share best practices. Several panels included representatives from CHA member hospitals, including Watsonville Community Hospital, Dignity Health, and the University of California, San Francisco.
President Biden Releases FY 2025 Budget Request
What’s happening: President Biden submitted his fiscal year (FY) 2025 budget request to Congress.
What else to know: The budget is a blueprint of the administration’s priorities and is not legislation.
Payment Program Announced for Providers Affected by Change Healthcare Cyberattack
What’s happening: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) provided details on Medicare advance and accelerated payments for providers affected by the Change Healthcare cyberattack.
What else to know: Impacted hospitals should apply through their Medicare administrative contractor (MAC).
CHA Urges OHCA to Adopt One-Year, Modified Target
What’s happening: In its formal comment letter submitted earlier this week to the Office of Health Care Affordability (OHCA), CHA urged the office to modify its 3%, five-year spending growth target proposal and instead adopt a one-year target that reflects key drivers of health care spending.
What else to know: OHCA must adopt its final proposal by June 1 — members should continue to engage with the board through public comment at its upcoming meetings; the next opportunity is March 25.
CHA Unveils Appellate Advocacy Tracker
What’s happening: CHA has released an appellate advocacy tracker that reports CHA’s amicus efforts to provide courts with important factual context and legal analysis, highlighting the ramifications of legal issues for hospitals.
What else to know: The tracker contains both the links to the amicus documents that CHA files and the outcome of these efforts.
House Passes First Package to Fund Federal Government, Includes Health Provisions
What’s happening: The U.S. House passed the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2024, which will fund a portion of the federal government through the end of the fiscal year. The package includes a group of CHA-supported health care provisions important to hospitals.
What else to know: Congress has until March 22 to pass a second package to fund the rest of the federal government, including the Department of Health and Human Services.
Recording of IRF Review Choice Demonstration Webinar Available
What’s happening: In August 2023, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) initiated the Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility Review Choice Demonstration (IRF RCD) Program in Alabama. CMS plans to expand the program to several other states, including California.
What else to know: On Feb. 13, CHA hosted a webinar on the IRF RCD; a recording is now available.
HQI and AQIPS Will Host 2024 Patient Safety Evaluation System Virtual Summit
What’s happening: Hospital Quality Institute and the Alliance for Quality Improvement and Patient Safety will host the Patient Safety Evaluation System 2024 Virtual Summit on May 21-22 from 8 a.m. to noon (PT).
What else to know: The summit will provide information on how to improve communication internally and with patients and strengthen patient care delivery. Registration is open.
