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.
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...
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.
What’s happening: On Dec. 3 from 2:30- 4 p.m. (PT), a panel of CHA experts will cover key legislation from the 2025 session, highlight crucial deadlines, and answer members’ questions.
What’s happening: The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) has outlined its schedule for issuing “catch-up” payments to hospitals in December, reflecting congressional action that delayed pending cuts to disproportionate share hospitals (DSHs).
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
