What’s happening: On May 15, the U.S. departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and the Treasury announced that they will not enforce the 2024 mental health parity final rule that aimed to improve access to mental health services by requiring health plans to make changes when inadequate access is provided.
(more…)Federal Agencies Will Not Enforce Mental Health Parity Final Rule
Summary Details CMS Proposal to Modify Health Care-Related Taxes
What’s happening: Earlier this month, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed changes to Medicaid health care-related tax rules that pose significant risks to California’s managed care organization (MCO) tax and Hospital Quality Assurance Fee Program.
(more…)Prop 35 Advisory Committee Meeting Covers May Revision Funding Sweep, DHCS Proposals
What’s happening: At its May 19 meeting, the Proposition (Prop) 35 “Protect Access to Health Care Act” Stakeholder Advisory Committee heard stakeholder concerns about Gov. Gavin Newsom’s May budget revision, which redirects Prop 35 funding rather than allocating it for provider payment increases as intended.
(more…)Hospitals Should Review Medicare Hospital FFY 2026 Wage Index and Occupational Mix Final Data
What’s happening: CHA DataSuite has issued a hospital-specific analysis of the Medicare hospital federal fiscal year (FFY) 2026 wage index and occupational mix data. It is important that hospitals review these wage data and submit disputes and/or correction requests by May 30.
(more…)Early Bird Pricing Now Available for 2025 Disaster Planning Conference
What’s happening: Registration for CHA’s 2025 Disaster Planning Conference, taking place Sept. 9-10 in Sacramento, is open. Early bird pricing for both members and nonmembers expires on Aug. 7.
(more…)AHA Extends Annual Survey Deadline
What’s happening: The American Hospital Association (AHA) is giving hospitals extra time to complete its Annual Survey, which will help health care leaders, policymakers, and researchers describe and understand hospital operations. The deadline has been extended to Aug. 11.
(more…)Hospital Care in the Crosshairs
Over the past couple of weeks, as federal and state budget proposals have come into sharper focus, the details are shaping up to be grim for hospitals and the patients who rely on them.
(more…)Federal, State Budget Proposals Threaten Health Care in California
What’s happening: Yesterday, Gov. Gavin Newsom released the May budget revision, which included proposals to pull away $1.6 billion in funding dedicated to health care organizations through last year’s Proposition 35. This came just days after the House Energy and Commerce Committee released a proposal to cut more than $715 billion from Medicaid (Medi-Cal in California).
(more…)Reminder: Expanded Hospital Supplier Diversity Reports Due July 1
What’s happening: The first round of expanded Hospital Supplier Diversity Reports required under Assembly Bill (AB) 1392 (2023) are due to the Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI) on July 1.
(more…)Labs Must Transition to Email for CLIA Notifications by March 2026
What’s happening: For laboratories to continue receiving Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) fee coupons and certificates, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced that they must switch to email notifications starting March 1, 2026.
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