What’s happening: The Office of Health Care Affordability’s (OHCA’s) board met on December 17 to discuss several issues, including enforcement of and updated data related to the spending targets, as well as the office’s recent work to develop a methodology for measuring hospital spending.
What’s happening: The Department of Health Care Access and Information’s Office of Statewide Hospital Planning and Development (OSHPD) has released a policy intent notice outlining its plans to standardize emergency work authorizations.
What’s happening: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has revised Appendix A of the State Operations Manual to include new interpretive guidelines and survey processes.
What is happening: The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) is requesting feedback by Dec. 5 on draft all plan letters addressing updated policies for Medi-Cal managed care plan (MCP) coverage of skilled-nursing, subacute care , and intermediate care facility services.
What’s happening: Last week, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) released an All Facilities Letter (AFL) reminding providers of upcoming patient safety plan requirements, passed as part of Assembly Bill (AB) 3161 in 2024.
What’s happening: On Dec. 29, 2025, the U.S. District Court of Maine blocked implementation of the federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) 340B Rebate Model Pilot Program from going into effect nationwide on January 1, 2026, pending further orders from the court.
The risk of losing access to critical health care services for Californians has never been greater. In the past three years alone, two hospitals in California have been forced to close. Another 22 have had to shutter maternity units just to stay afloat, leaving 12 counties without maternity care. Today, dozens more are facing similar...
Hospitals are required to have an Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) detailing plans for responding and recovering from hazards. The plan must include 6 critical elements within The Joint Commission’s Emergency Management Standards:
Communications
Resources and assets
Safety and security
Staff responsibilities
Utilities
Clinical support activities
What’s happening: The Department of Health Care Access and Information is hosting a complimentary webinar from 1:30 to 3 p.m. (PT) on Jan. 14 that will focus on fostering a Collaborative Inspection Approach to Hospital Construction. What else to know: Subject matter experts will provide helpful tips and guidance for developing a culture of collaboration and improving effective communication for successful completion of hospital construction projects. Design professionals (architects, engineers), hospital representatives...
What’s happening: On Dec. 29, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the much-anticipated Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) award announcements. While all 50 states were awarded RHTP funds, California earned an award of $233.6 million in the first year, the third-highest dollar amount award of any state.
