Search Results for: "Continuity Planning"

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Medicare Coverage for Behavioral Health Expanded

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What’s happening: The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) announced that Medicare will cover visits with mental health counselors, addiction counselors, and marriage and family therapists, effective since Jan. 1.  What else to know: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will conduct both routine and focused program audits of Medicare Advantage (MA) organizations...

Upcoming Programs Support Your Advocacy on OHCA, Federal Policy

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With the state Office of Health Care Affordability (OHCA) barreling toward singling out hospitals for even lower spending growth targets than the statewide goal — and federal legislators debating budget proposals that would decimate Medicaid and Medicare funding — CHA has developed two opportunities for hospitals to prepare for engagement on both of these critical issues.  

OHCA Board Pushes for Reconsideration of High-Cost Hospital Designations

What’s happening: The Office of Health Care Affordability (OHCA) board met on March 25, where it pushed the office to create a process to revise “high-cost” hospital determinations if based on faulty data. The board also deliberated over the process for providers to obtain adjustments to their spending targets related to the growth in non-supervisory organized labor costs.   

Time to Speak Out Against Budget Proposals That Threaten Health Care

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As a federal debate heats up over legislation that could bring historic cuts to Medicare and Medicaid (Medi-Cal), it’s essential that California’s federal representatives hear from hospital leaders about how these cuts would devastate both access to health care and hospitals struggling to deliver vital health services. 

MedPAC to Develop Rural Hospital and Clinician Payment Workplan

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What’s happening: The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) is developing a rural hospital and clinician payment policy workplan for 2024–25.  

What else to know: The March MedPAC meeting included discussion to inform a future recommendation to Congress related to rural hospitals.  

State Budget Negotiations Continue as Legislature to Submit Its Version of the Budget

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What’s happening: The Legislature will send its version of the 2024-25 state budget, possibly addressing the managed care organization (MCO) tax issue, to the governor by the June 15 constitutional deadline.   What else to know: A key issue to be resolved is whether to restore funding for Medi-Cal providers from the MCO tax with a...

Governor Releases 2018-19 State Budget

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Today Gov. Brown, in his final year as Governor, released his state budget plan, totaling $190 billion for fiscal year 2018-19. As he has in the past, the Governor emphasized fiscal prudence even though the state is projected to have a healthy one-time surplus. He noted that California continues to face uncertain times, including ramifications of the recently enacted federal tax bill, which has not yet been factored into this year’s budget. Today’s budget continues to build the state’s Rainy Day Fund and keep spending in line with revenues.

Key issues of concern CHA has identified in the budget include:

A proposal by the Department of Health Care Services to restrict federal 340B Drug Pricing Program reimbursements within the Medi-Cal program, effective July 1, 2019. As described in the budget summary, the proposal allows the state to comply with existing federal requirements, helps protect program integrity, prevents unnecessary overpayments, collects additional drug rebates, and reduces the time and resources expended to resolve drug rebate disputes related to 340B claims. CHA will learn more details about this proposal and work closely with the Department of Health Care Services and other stakeholders to mitigate impact on hospitals that participate in the 340B program.

Transition on OHCA Board as Hospital Spending and Measurement Workgroup Wraps for the Year

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What’s happening: Mark Ghaly, MD, MPH, has resigned as secretary of the California Health and Human Services Agency (CalHHS). His seat on the OHCA board will transition to the newly appointed secretary, Kim Johnson, or her designee.  What else to know: Since April, the Office of Health Care Affordability (OHCA) has been convening a workgroup...