News

The Department of Health and Human Services’ Office on Women’s Health recognized 20 organizations, including AHA-member hospitals and health systems, for their effective programs to monitor and provide follow-up care for hypertensive disorders to pregnant and postpartum women.

The House passed the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act (H.R. 1667), AHA-supported legislation that would authorize grants for programs that offer behavioral health services for front-line health care workers.

The Food and Drug Administration authorized using the combination monoclonal antibody therapy Evusheld to help prevent COVID-19 in certain adults and children with compromised immune systems or a history of severe adverse reaction to a COVID-19 vaccine or its components.

The Food and Drug Administration announced the widely anticipated expansion of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine emergency use authorization to allow booster doses for 16- and 17-year-olds.

The AHA released a new issue of the COVID-19 Snapshot underscoring the persisting challenges facing hospitals and health systems during the ongoing public health emergency.

A bipartisan group of senators urged Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell to extend through the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency the moratorium preventing a 2% cut to Medicare payments under sequestration.

The AHA and American Medical Association today sued the federal government over the misguided implementation of the federal surprise billing law.

Tamiko Stanley, chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer at Luminis Health, reflects on lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic and best practices moving forward.

New Hampshire hospitals and their health care heroes recently received the Distinguished Industry of the Year Award from the Daniel Webster Council of the Boy Scouts of America for their service, sacrifice and courage throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The Health Resources and Services Administration awarded states and territories an additional $81 million in emergency funding from the American Rescue Plan Act for the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program, which provides voluntary home visits to improve maternal and child health for families in high-risk communities.

Primary and behavioral health organizations, state and local governments and others can apply through Feb. 7 for a portion of $30 million from the American Rescue Plan Act to expand community-based drug overdose prevention programs, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration announced.

Pfizer released preliminary laboratory findings on its COVID-19 vaccine’s effectiveness against the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant, offering an early look at the two, distinct dosing regiments currently authorized in the U.S.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will continue to exercise discretion in enforcing compliance with the payer-to-payer data exchange provisions of its 2020 final rule on interoperability and patient access until it finalizes future rulemaking to address implementation challenges, the agency announced. 

The House voted 222-212 to pass a legislative package that would extend the moratorium on the 2% Medicare sequester cuts until April 1, 2022, and reduce the cuts from 2% to 1% from April 1 through June 30, 2022.

Mutations in the omicron variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus may impact certain molecular tests for COVID-19, the Food and Drug Administration announced.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services seeks public comments until Feb. 1 to inform potential changes to the requirements for transplant programs, organ procurement organizations, and end-stage renal disease facilities that participate in the Medicare and Medicaid programs to improve and advance equity in organ donation and transplantation and dialysis services. 

U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, M.D., released an Advisory on Protecting Youth Mental Health, which calls for a “a whole-of-society effort to address longstanding challenges, strengthen the resilience of young people, support their families and communities, and mitigate the pandemic’s mental health impacts.”

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit issued its opinion explaining why it denied Florida’s motion for an injunction pending appeal.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services intends to propose adding a “birthing-friendly” hospital designation on its Care Compare website to drive improvements in perinatal health outcomes and maternal health equity, the Department of Health and Human Services announced.

The White House hosted a summit to mark the first federal Maternal Health Day of Action. The summit highlighted actions the federal government is taking to reduce maternal mortality and morbidity.