CMS to Host Jan. 28 Webinar on Hospital Quality Star Ratings Update
What’s happening: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid will hold a webinar on Jan. 28 at 11 a.m. (PT) to discuss the upcoming Overall Hospital Quality Star Ratings refresh.
Articles
OHCA Advisory Committee Solicits Applications for New Committee Members, Discusses Spending Target Enforcement at Latest Meeting
What’s happening: The Office of Health Care Affordability (OHCA) is seeking applications to serve on its advisory committee, which provides input to the office on topics ranging from the spending target methodology and sectors to workforce and quality standards. CHA encourages members to apply by the March 31 deadline, as input from health care experts is critical to ensuring OHCA’s policies support patient care.
CHA’s Health Care Worker ‘Right to Vote’ Act Reaches First Signature Milestone
What’s happening: CHA’s sponsored ballot measure — The Health Care Union Transparency, Accountability & Union Member Right to Vote Act — has reached 25% of the signatures needed to qualify for the November 2026 statewide ballot.
Psychiatric Staffing Ratio Proposal Would Immediately Upend Care
A dangerous and detrimental staffing ratio mandate for freestanding psychiatric hospitals that would make it harder for Californians to get treatment for mental health disorders is careening toward approval.
CHA Pushes Back on State’s Effort to Prematurely End OHCA Legal Challenge
What’s happening: On Jan. 15, CHA submitted its latest legal filing in the case against the Office of Health Care Affordability (OHCA). In December, OHCA’s attorneys asked the court to dismiss CHA’s lawsuit, alleging CHA and its members lack standing and did not sufficiently plead their case in the original challenge. CHA’s filing objects to OHCA’s request and demonstrates that the OHCA decisions on spending targets and related matters are ripe for judicial...
Inpatient Post-Acute Care Transfer Policy Analysis Shows Impact on FFS Payments
What’s happening: DataSuite has issued hospital-specific analyses of the inpatient post-acute care transfer (PACT) adjustment policy. The analysis shows the estimated impact on Medicare inpatient fee-for-service payments, and corresponding Medicare severity diagnosis-related group (MS-DRG) volumes from the inpatient prospective payment system (IPPS) during federal fiscal years 2021-26.
Cal/OSHA Standards Boards to Hold Advisory Committee Meeting on Surgical Smoke
What’s happening: On Jan. 20, the Cal/OSHA Standards Board will hold an advisory committee meeting on occupational exposure to plume (surgical smoke) in health care from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (PT) via Zoom.
CARB to Host Public Hearing on Reporting Rules
What’s happening: On Feb. 26, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) will conduct a public hearing to consider approving adoption of the proposed climate data and financial risk reporting regulations.
National News Shines Spotlight on Horrors of Insurance Company Denials
Over the weekend, CBS News aired an important and timely segment examining the challenges millions of Americans face in accessing health care services due to insurance companies denying coverage for necessary tests and treatments.
Prop 35 Advisory Committee Presents Revised 2025-26 Spending Plan at January Meeting
What’s happening: At its Jan. 14 meeting, the Proposition 35 Protect Access to Health Care Act Stakeholder Advisory Committee was presented a revised spending plan for calendar years 2025 and 2026. The spending plan reflects investments supported by managed care organization (MCO) tax proceeds generated from taxes imposed on Medi-Cal managed care plans.