On June 26, the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) approved the tax and managed care payment policies for the next iteration of the Hospital Fee Program (Program 9). California still awaits final approval from CMS on the fee for service payments. In the meantime, CHA has been working with the state on implementing the approved portion on the program.

Join us to hear the latest updates on Program 9, including key resources available to CHA members, information about the likely schedule for taxes and hospital payments, and CHA’s federal advocacy efforts to secure fee-for-service approval.

Through the end of this month, hospitals have a brief window to elevate their voices on two critical issues that could be decided in a matter of weeks. 

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What’s happening: This week, CHA’s Board of Trustees voted to formally support Proposition 2, the Save for California’s Future Act.  

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What’s happening: This week, CHA commented on the Office of Health Care Affordability’s (OHCA’s) draft regulations implementing the nonsupervisory organized labor cost adjustment to the spending targets. In the letter, CHA stresses that the proposal “falls short of the Legislature’s overarching goals and directives, fails the office’s policy imperative to treat all workers equitably, and creates a policy that is largely unworkable given the realities of collective bargaining.” 

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What’s happening: California hospitals are required to submit an annual Hospital Equity Report to the Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI) by Sept. 30.  

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What’s happening: With the major federal approvals of Hospital Fee Program 9 on June 26, the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) can begin assessing the fee and implementing the managed care portion of the program. While federal approval of the fee-for-service (FFS) payment components is still pending and expected to be received in the coming weeks, DHCS will move forward with the managed care fee and payment cycles in the meantime.

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What’s happening:  The California Air Resources Board (CARB) will hold a virtual public workshop to share new details on forthcoming regulations implementing Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions reporting requirements, authorized under Senate Bill 253, for 2027 and beyond. 

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What’s happening: Last month’s primary election results have been certified by the Secretary of State, setting the stage for a pivotal November election.  

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Mandated Training on the National Incident Management System and the Incident Command System for Hospitals and Health Care Systems

ICS Web Training Course (ICS-100, ICS-200 & IS-700)

The Hospital Preparedness Program requires hospitals that receive grant funding to train their leadership in the National Incident Management System and the Incident Command System. This training is required for hospital emergency program managers and for personnel who are likely to assume an incident command position as described in the hospital’s emergency management plan.

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What’s happening: On Wednesday, CHA issued an alert asking members to call their state senator and ask them to vote “no” on Assembly Bill 2575 (Ortega, D-Hayward). The bill would protect health care workers from corrective action or discipline when they override an artificial intelligence tool, even if the decision results in patient harm or violates hospital policies and procedures.  

What else to know: Members are asked to make calls by July 31; the bill is set to be heard in the Senate Appropriations Committee on Aug. 3. It is vital that lawmakers understand that this bill would not achieve its intended goals.