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States, Territories to Get Nearly $2.5 Billion from Biden Administration to Address Mental Illness and Addiction Crisis

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Last week, the Biden administration announced it will provide nearly $2.5 billion in funding to states and territories to address the nation’s mental illness and addiction crisis, which has worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic. Recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirm a rise in fatal overdoses during the pandemic, and this year’s increases in calls to helplines across the country are indicative of growing anxiety, depression, and trauma in Americans. 

CDPH Updates COVID-19 Vaccine Eligibility Guidelines

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On March 11, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) issued three documents updating its guidance on prioritizing individuals for the COVID-19 vaccine. In addition to providing important clarifications on the implementation of vaccines for people with high-risk medical conditions or disabilities, the guidance adds categories of individuals in specified settings who are eligible to be vaccinated due to their increased risk. 

First, CDPH updated its Provider Bulletin to add the following individuals to those eligible to be vaccinated beginning March 15:   

Job Opportunities

Employment Benefits California Hospital Association/California Association of Hospitals & Health Systems Benefits and Perks The employees who serve our member hospitals are employed by CHA’s sister company, the California Association of Hospitals and Health Systems (CAHHS).  CAHHS employees appreciate the additional benefits they receive besides the monetary amounts they see on their paycheck. Our outstanding […]

CHA Issues Alert Reminder: Urge Senators to Oppose Bill That Would Create a Workers’ Comp Presumption

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On March 10, CHA issued a reminder for an Alert urging hospitals to write to state Sen. Dave Cortese (D-San Jose), chair of the Senate Labor, Public Employment and Retirement Committee, and call their senator to voice opposition to  Senate Bill (SB) 213. The bill would create a rebuttable presumption in the workers’ compensation system that an infectious disease, musculoskeletal injury, or respiratory disease arose out of work for any hospital direct patient care worker.

AHA to Host All-Member Advocacy Event on March 16

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New legislation to help hospitals is starting to move through Congress and it may move quickly. Please join the American Hospital Association (AHA) for a special virtual advocacy event on March 16 from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. (PT) to hear the latest on the health care legislative package under consideration and priority issues. CHA will be issuing an Alert with additional details about the legislation and talking points before the AHA event.

CHA Raises Concerns, Asks for Clarifications on Provider Relief Fund Reporting Instructions

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CHA submitted a letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) asking it to provide additional and necessary clarifications related to the Provider Relief Fund (PRF) reporting instructions. In the letter, CHA details specific concerns and recommendations to HHS, including:  

CEO Message: Relief for California Hospitals Can Come in Many Ways — But it Must Come

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Today, President Biden signed a $1.9 trillion COVID-19 stimulus package that will bring much-needed relief to a wide swath of the country including: an extension of jobless supplement programs, direct $1,400 payments to most Americans, an expansion of the child tax credit, support for restaurants, rental assistance, support for schools, and billions of dollars to state and local governments. 

Updates for the Week of March 8

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The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services issued the following updates this week:​​​​

Medicare Part A Cost Report Appeals Listening Session — March 16
April 2021 Update of the Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS)
CHART Model Community Transformation Track Letters of Interest Accepted Due April 13, Application Deadline Extended to May 11
CMS Revises Timelines, Application for Medicare Shared Savings Program Cycle for January 1, 2022 Start
Kidney Care Choices Model’s First Performance Year Start Date Now January 1, 2022
Save the Date: March 30 CMS Quality Programs Bi-Monthly Forum

Reminder: Urge Senators to Reject Increased Health Care Costs by Opposing Bill That Would Create a Workers’ Compensation Presumption

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Action needed:

Write state Sen. Dave Cortese (D-San Jose), chair of the Senate Labor, Public Employment and Retirement Committee, and call your state senator to voice your opposition to his legislation, Senate Bill (SB) 213. 

CHA has developed a template letter and key messages for members’ use. Please send a copy of your letter to Dawn Vicari at dvicari@calhospital.org.

 

Find senators’ contact information on the state Legislature’s site.

Timing: 

Write Sen. Cortese by March 15 and call your senator by March 19.

Background:

Similar to many unsuccessful efforts over the past decade, SB 213 would create a rebuttable presumption in the workers’ compensation system that an infectious disease, musculoskeletal injury, or respiratory disease arose out of work for any hospital direct patient care worker. The bill would also extend indefinitely a presumption for COVID-19. Aside from recent COVID-19-specific and time-limited workers’ compensation presumptions that cover all industries, presumptions have been limited to the public sector.  

Because it is virtually impossible to overcome a workers’ compensation presumption, hospitals would be required to accept more claims with little to no evidence that they are work-related. Such claims can reach hundreds of thousands of dollars in temporary and permanent disability payments and medical costs for a single case.

Please personalize the primary messages below with your hospital’s unique experiences when you call and write the senators: 

Hospitals highly value their employees and prioritize their well-being. Without healthy employees, hospitals could not fulfill their mission of care.
According to the California Workers’ Compensation Institute, health care employers have one of the lowest denial rates of any industry — including public safety. In 2019, denial rates for health care ranged from 7.7% to 9.3%, while public safety/government ranged from 13.8% to 18.3%, and the average denial rate for all industries ranged from 10.4% to 12.6%.  
These increases in workers’ compensation costs will directly and immediately impact hospitals’ financial ability to protect access to high-quality care, especially considering that 39% of hospitals already operate in the red.