News

The AHA urged President-elect Biden to provide strong federal leadership on the COVID-19 vaccine distribution and administration process, and it pledged to work with the incoming administration in expediting the administration of vaccines throughout the nation.

Even as we continue to address COVD-19 challenges, let’s consider the experiences of the past year, looking for lessons learned and opportunities for the future. Here are four major areas that changed during the pandemic and are likely to keep transforming health care in the year ahead.

NewYork-Presbyterian routinely screens patients for social needs during outpatient and emergency department visits at six of the system’s New York City locations to identify patients for whom prevention and early intervention might mitigate social needs, resulting in fewer ED visits and avoidable readmissions.

Pennsylvania has dropped its legal challenge to the proposed merger of Philadelphia-based Jefferson Health and Einstein Healthcare Network.

Nearly 8.3 million people selected a 2021 health plan through HealthCare.gov during open enrollment, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services said in an update.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services may expand the Home Health Value-Based Purchasing Model nationwide through rulemaking as soon as next year, the agency announced.

The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology released for comment proposed changes to the United States Core Data for Interoperability, a standard set of data classes and elements for national health information exchange.

AHA is partnering with the Hospital at Home Users Group and American Academy of Home Care Medicine to present a webinar series for hospitals and health systems interested in implementing a hospital care-at-home model.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services finalized its proposal to codify how it defines “reasonable and necessary” coverage for items and services furnished under Medicare Parts A and B.

The AHA Jan. 26 at 11 a.m. ET is hosting a Q&A event covering what front-line health care workers need to know about infection prevention and the environment of care.

The Department of Health and Human Services updated its guidance to hospitals on the reporting of COVID-19-related data.

The Department of Health and Human Services announced it is investing through the Health Resources and Services Administration $8 million to address gaps in rural telehealth.

he Food and Drug Administration released for comment its first plan for advancing oversight of medical software based on artificial intelligence and machine learning.

Robert Trestman, M.D., chair of the Department of Psychiatry at Carillion Clinic in Roanoke, Va., will chair AHA’s Behavioral Health Services Committee in 2021. Arpan Waghray, M.D., executive medical director of behavioral medicine at Swedish Health Services and chief medical officer for WellBeing Trust in Sammanish, Wash., will serve as chair-elect.

The AHA Rural Health Care Leadership Virtual Conference and Engagement Experience — one of AHA's flagship events — will be held Feb. 17-18.

House Ways and Means Committee Democrats released a report on the intersection between health and economic wellbeing and a legislative framework for advancing health and economic equity.

As COVID-19 surges continue, lessons learned by health systems large and small reveal the importance of teamwork, communication, flexibility, preparation and supporting the physical and mental health of all staff.

Health care providers can now apply online for Section 1135 waivers related to the COVID-19 pandemic or other public health emergencies, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is tracking COVID-19 vaccinations through its COVID Data Tracker, validating the numbers with jurisdictions through the data submission process, CDC announced.

The Department of Health and Human Services released an outpatient treatment locator for monoclonal antibody therapeutics.