What’s happening: CHA has filed an amicus brief in support of the clinics’ lawsuit that challenges Prop 44, which would impose arbitrary and extreme restrictions on how federally qualified health centers can spend money on patient care and community services. The lawsuit against the SEIU-UHW-sponsored initiative seeks to keep it off the November 2026 ballot.
(more…)CHA Files Amicus Brief in Lawsuit to Keep Clinic Initiative Off the Ballot
Q1 2026 Inpatient Quality Program Measure Trends Analysis Released
What’s happening: CHA DataSuite has issued a hospital-specific analysis of the inpatient quality program measure trends with updated Care Compare data released in first quarter 2026.
What else to know: The analysis is designed to provide hospitals with a comparative review of the quality data collected by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and published over time on Care Compare. The measures updated in this first quarter 2026 Care Compare data release are HCAHPS, hospital-acquired infections, sepsis, and star ratings.
To help hospitals prioritize their quality improvement efforts, the “Bottom Measures” worksheet compares all measures in the analysis and identifies the three areas with the most opportunity for improvement.
For detailed information on the sources and methods, see the analysis description.
CDPH Issues Guidance on Ebola Preparedness
What’s happening: Last week, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) released All Facilities Letter (AFL) 26-19, which offers guidance on Ebola preparedness for hospitals.
(more…)DHCS Publishes APLs on Several Medi-Cal Managed Care Plan Policies
What is happening: The Department of Health Care Services has published All Plan Letters (APLs) updating policies for Medi-Cal managed care plan (MCP) coverage of skilled nursing, subacute care, and intermediate care facility services.
(more…)A New Era for the American Hospital Association
A couple of weeks ago, the American Hospital Association stepped forward into its next chapter with the appointment of Steve Walsh as its next President and Chief Executive Officer. Walsh takes AHA’s reins following the announcement late last year that my friend and current President and CEO Rick Pollack would be retiring after nearly 50 years with the organization.
(more…)A Turning Point for Hospitals Amid the Maelstrom
“You can’t go back and change the beginning but you can start where you are and change the ending.” ― C.S. Lewis
(more…)CMS Approves Hospital Fee Program 9
What’s happening: Last week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services approved the most critical components of California’s 2025 Hospital Fee Program (Program 9).
(more…)CHA, Hospital Advocacy Stalls Bill Prohibiting Facility Fees
What’s happening: This week, Assemblymember Mia Bonta (D-Alameda) pulled Assembly Bill (AB) 225, her authored bill that would have prohibited hospitals from charging facility fees for certain services provided in off-campus outpatient departments, from the July 1 Senate Health Committee agenda.
(more…)2026-27 State Budget Includes Support for Distressed Hospitals
What’s happening: This week, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law the 2026-27 fiscal year state budget. Of note to hospitals, the final budget agreement includes $135 million to help financially distressed hospitals and $250 million to support public hospitals.
(more…)CARB Extends Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reporting Deadline to Nov. 10
What’s happening: The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has moved the Aug. 10 deadline for reporting Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions to Nov. 10.
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