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California Surgeon General Dr. Nadine Burke Harris and Dr. Karen Mark, medical director for the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS), have unveiled a new initiative to help health care providers screen patients for adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) that increase the likelihood of health conditions caused by toxic stress.
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CHA DataSuite has issued hospital-specific analyses showing the estimated impact of the federal fiscal year (FFY) 2021 Medicare inpatient hospital Value-Based Purchasing (VBP) Program, based on publicly available data and program rules established by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
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CHA has updated its list of federal quality measures required for public reporting and performance-based programs for hospitals and other post-acute care providers.
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Amid the grand legislative battles that play out at the Capitol, along with other street fights like those over public ballot initiatives, it’s important to take a moment to call attention to the quiet, steady, and often unheralded work that goes on to help hospitals.
A fair amount of this work is related to regulatory bodies, like the California Department of Public Health, an agency hospitals have expressed frustration over due to what has felt like inconsistent interpretation and application of state rules.
That’s why we’re grateful for two occasions last month that we hope will herald a different working relationship between hospitals and the department. On Nov. 19 in Sacramento and on Nov. 21 in Pasadena, we facilitated two programs where hospital leaders had the opportunity to connect directly with regulators — to share concerns and collaborate on ideas that could improve effectiveness and efficiency.
This was the first time such meetings were held.
In all, nearly 400 hospital representatives attended, along with nearly 100 regulators from CDPH and its district offices.
A few key takeaways:
Heidi Steinecker, CDPH’s new deputy director, Center for Health Care Quality, deserves credit for bringing a fresh approach to the department in the hopes of creating statewide uniformity, reducing redundancy, and working more efficiently with hospitals. She wants input from hospitals and welcomes texts or calls on her cell phone at (916) 502-3773.
In at least one district, CDPH seems willing to schedule visits to hospitals for facility-reported incidents — to minimize disruption to patient care resulting from unannounced visits.
Breakout sessions revealed many inconsistencies and concerns related to CDPH’s survey process; we will be working closely with the department to develop a more streamlined approach.
These inaugural two meetings were just the beginning. We intend to hold more, with agencies such as the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development and the State Board of Pharmacy, so processes and interactions can be improved across multiple regulatory bodies.
Here’s why: We know this work will never dominate headlines like seismic safety compliance, or independent contractor laws, but it’s invaluable because it helps you focus more of your staff’s limited time in the right place — on the patients and communities entrusted to you.
— Carmela, Bryan, George, Dimitrios
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At the 2020 California Hospital Volunteer Leadership Conference — titled “Engineering Change. Inspiring Leadership.” — motivational speaker and trainer Jeanne Sexson will use an interactive and practical approach to address change and the major impact it has on productivity.
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The Department of Health and Human Services has released the following information:
Jan. 16: 2020 Medicare Promoting Interoperability Program Webinar CMS Clinical Diagnostic Laboratory Test Payment System Data Reporting Call Recording Available Provider Claims Must Include Medicare Beneficiary Identifiers by End of Year Grants for Expansion and Sustainability of the Comprehensive Community Mental Health Services for Children with Serious Emotional Disturbances Hospital Price Transparency Special Open Door Forum — December 10
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The Department of Health Care Services has released its monthly Stakeholder Communication Update. Among other topics, the December edition includes information on the Behavioral Health Integration Incentive Program, nonmedical transportation, new trauma screening benefits, the Drug Medi-Cal Organized Delivery System, Whole Person Care pilot programs, and upcoming meetings and webinars.
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This week, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) issued its draft recommendations for each of the Medicare fee-for-service payment systems, as required by law. These recommendations, directed at Congress and the Department of Health and Human Services Secretary, are for calendar year (CY) and federal fiscal year (FFY) 2021. MedPAC will meet in January to vote on its recommendations.
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CHA has issued a summary, prepared by Health Policy Alternatives, on the proposed rule that would establish a number of new price transparency requirements for health plans. These regulations, proposed by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) along with the departments of Labor and Treasury, are intended to build on recently finalized price transparency requirements for hospitals and reflect President Trump’s June 24 executive order. Comments on the proposed rule are due Jan. 29.
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CHA has released two summaries of Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) policies finalized under the calendar year (CY) 2020 outpatient prospective payment system (OPPS) final rules. The first summary details payment, policy, and outpatient quality reporting changes finalized for the CY 2020 OPPS under the Nov. 1 final rule, which take effect Jan. 1, 2020. The second summary, prepared by Health Policy Alternatives, Inc. (HPA), details specific price transparency requirements finalized in a separate final rule, issued Nov. 15 and effective Jan. 1, 2021.