The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last week amended emergency use authorizations for Pfizer and Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccines to allow for the use of a third, additional dose for certain immunocompromised individuals, specifically for “solid organ transplant recipients or those who are diagnosed with conditions that are considered to have an equivalent level of immunocompromise.”
CHA has issued its federal quality measure inventory to reflect the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) annual rulemaking for federal fiscal and calendar years 2022. Notably, due to the COVID-19 public health emergency, CMS finalized limited changes to federal quality reporting requirements. The Excel workbook lists quality measures required for federal public reporting and performance-based programs for hospitals and other...
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued the final rule for the home health prospective payment system (PPS) for calendar year (CY) 2021.
On Sept. 2, CMS issued its final rule updating the federal fiscal year (FFY) 2021 inpatient prospective payment system (IPPS) and long-term care hospital (LTCH) prospective payment system. CHA has issued summaries, prepared by Health Policy Alternatives, detailing the IPPS and LTCH PPS provisions of the final rule.
CHA has been working closely with the California Health and Human Services Agency, the Department of Health Care Services, and the County Behavioral Health Directors Association (CBHDA) to find ways to assist and help decompress hospital emergency departments during the pandemic once an individual with a behavioral health condition is ready for discharge.
CBHDA has reached out to its 58 county behavioral health director members to identify a primary/secondary contact for both mental health conditions and substance use disorders who can help facilitate ED discharges. The individuals in this spreadsheet can help coordinate ED transfers or referrals for any beneficiary who is uninsured or insured by Medi-Cal, and is a beneficiary of county behavioral health services. The spreadsheet includes the names, email addresses, phone numbers, and preferred method of communication for these county contacts.
Most — but not all — counties have identified individuals. As we obtain additional county contact information, we will update the posted spreadsheet.
Questions about this new resource can be directed to Sheree Lowe or BJ Bartleson.
On May 8, the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) formally requested an 18-month extension of the state’s current Medi-Cal Specialty Mental Health Services (SMHS) Waiver authorized under Section 1915(b) of the Social Security Act.
Following his inauguration speech Monday, Gov. Gavin Newsom released his health care agenda. In it, he outlined several strategies to expand health care coverage that are supported by CHA’s Board of Trustees:
Expansion of subsidies for low-income families
The establishment of an individual mandate
The provision of coverage for undocumented individuals
What’s happening: The California Department of Public Health’s All Facilities Letter 25-05, issued on Feb. 3, notifies general acute care and acute psychiatric hospitals of the enactment of Senate Bill (SB) 1300 (Chapter 894, Statutes of 2024). What else to know: Per SB 1300, a hospital that is closing an inpatient psychiatric unit or perinatal...
On Feb. 2 at 9 a.m. (PT), Chad Mulvany, CHA vice president, federal policy, and Tom Hubner, Toyon Associates, Inc. vice president, will hold a webinar to discuss the supplemental inpatient prospective payment system final rule and what it means for expanding resident training programs.
On Feb. 28, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) approved the Home- and Community-Based Services Assisted Living Waiver (ALW) renewal, effective March 1, 2019, through Feb. 28, 2024. The renewal includes 2,000 slots added in the CMS-approved amendment from October 2018, for a total capacity of 5,744.
