What’s happening: Prior to its next meeting on Sept. 23, CHA submitted a comment letter to the Office of Health Care Affordability (OHCA) calling attention to the fact that key hospital information — gathered at a July workshop and submitted in 43 hospital letters ahead of OHCA’s comment deadline — was summarily disregarded before the board’s August vote on penalties.
(more…)CHA Letter Calls out Lack of Hospital Perspective Shared with OHCA Board
August Invoices Past Due, Should be Paid as Soon as Possible
What’s happening: Two hospital fee program invoices were due on Aug. 26. Hospitals that have not yet paid these invoices in full should do so as soon as possible.
(more…)Download Monthly DHCS Data Files for August ASAP
What’s happening: As of the Sept. 14 deadline, 77 hospitals had not yet downloaded their Private Hospital Directed Payment (PHDP) volume reports and encounter detail files for August.
(more…)CHA Joins Opposition to Prop 44, Which Would Restrict Clinic Spending
What’s happening: CHA has joined the California Primary Care Association in opposing Proposition 44. This initiative would require community health clinics to spend 90% of their revenue on program services.
(more…)EMSA Launching New Portals for Specialty Care Data, Electronic Patient Records
What’s happening: The Emergency Medical Services Authority (EMSA) is replacing its Patient Registry and Hospital Hub platforms with California Patient Outcomes Portal (CAL-POP) and California Hospital Online Portal (CHOP), respectively, and establishing new platforms for specialty care data submission and electronic patient care record (ePCR) access.
(more…)Comment Period Open for Misguided Weapons Detection Screening Regulations
What’s happening: This week, the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) proposed draft regulations implementing Assembly Bill 2975, which was passed in 2024 and requires that hospitals implement weapons detection screening at the main hospital entrance, emergency department entrance, and labor and delivery entrance if separately situated.
(more…)OHCA Enforcement and Penalties: Where Things Stand and How to Prepare — Participant Information Page
The California Office of Health Care Affordability (OHCA) has begun laying out how it will enforce hospital spending targets through a progressive enforcement process, and its board recently voted on the financial penalties that hospitals may incur. Draft regulations detailing the enforcement process and associated penalties are expected soon.
Join CHA for a timely webinar on where progressive enforcement stands and what it means for hospitals and health systems. Presenters will explain the draft progressive enforcement process, what remains unresolved, and the steps hospitals should be taking now to prepare. The session will also summarize the recent OHCA board meeting and financial penalty vote, and lay out the rulemaking and comment timeline ahead.
The webinar will also outline opportunities for hospitals to help shape the final regulations through the public-comment process. Attendees will learn what to consider when evaluating the proposal, how to provide meaningful feedback, and how CHA will support and coordinate member engagement.
The webinar will close with an overview of CHA’s broader strategy on OHCA, including advocacy priorities for the coming year and an update on CHA’s legal work.
Hospitals’ Battle to Protect Access to Care Moves Forward
A key ruling this week in San Francisco Superior Court marks critical progress toward protecting the patient care that is increasingly jeopardized by the actions of the state Office of Health Care Affordability (OHCA).
(more…)DHCS Provides Guidance on Fee-For-Service Transition
What’s happening: The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) has published new resources to support Medi-Cal members, providers, and partners ahead of the Jan. 1, 2027, transition of members with unsatisfactory immigration status from managed care to fee-for-service.
(more…)Health Care Leaders Urged to Apply for Financial Solvency Standards Board
What’s happening: The Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC) is seeking up to four people to serve on the Financial Solvency Standards Board (FSSB). Interested candidates must submit required documents by Oct. 2.
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