What Kind of Health Care System Will We Have Left?
Health care — one of our most fundamental needs as human beings — is at an inflection point.
What’s happening: Yesterday, Gov. Gavin Newsom released the May budget revision, which included proposals to pull away $1.6 billion in funding dedicated to health care organizations through last year’s Proposition 35. This came just days after the House Energy and Commerce Committee released a proposal to cut more than $715 billion from Medicaid (Medi-Cal in California).
What’s happening: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued proposed changes to the Medicaid health care-related tax rules that present significant risks for California’s managed care organization (MCO) tax and Hospital Quality Assurance Fee Program — both of which hospitals rely on to deliver patient care. Comments on the proposed rule are due to CMS by July 14.
What’s happening: Due to the continuity of electrical power required to support patient care, requirements for health care microgrids are above and beyond those of traditional microgrids — and health care facilities with microgrid projects under the Department of Health Care Access and Information’s (HCAI’s) jurisdiction can turn to a new microgrid advisory guide for assistance understanding the process.
SACRAMENTO (April 22, 2025) — “Today’s decision by the Office of Health Care Affordability (OHCA) to impose deep cuts on seven hospitals will create alarming consequences for patient care,” said Carmela Coyle, President & CEO of the California Hospital Association. “These cuts are coming on top of below-inflation spending caps for all hospitals that OHCA has already put in place. Make no mistake — the hospital care Californians receive is now being decided by a handful of unelected people who are cutting billions of dollars from your health care.”
What’s happening: On April 11, CHA submitted comments to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on proposed changes to enrollment and eligibility policies for Affordable Care Act health insurance marketplaces.
What’s happening: Summaries of the inpatient rehabilitation facility (IRF) prospective payment system (PPS), skilled-nursing facility (SNF) PPS, hospice wage index, and inpatient psychiatric facility (IPF) PPS proposed rules are now available.