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The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Sept. 11 released revised guidance regarding conditions of participation and the conversion process for eligible hospitals interested in participating in Medicare and Medicaid as a rural emergency hospital.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid services Sept.

The House Education and Workforce Committee advanced several bills today, including legislation that would empower commercial insurance companies at the expense of patients and a bill that would ban facility fees for telehealth visits.

The uninsurance rate for Americans was 8% in 2023, unchanged from the previous year, according to Current Population Survey data released Sept. 10 by the Census Bureau.

Leaders of the AHA this week are participating the International Hospital Federation's 47th annual World Hospital Congress in Rio de Janeiro, leading a series of panels that include presentations from health care executives and other officials from around the world. 

Hospitals and health systems are seeing significant increases in administrative costs, including due to burdensome practices by commercial insurers that often delay and deny care for patients, according to a new report released Sept. 10 by the AHA. 

Advancing Health's new series, “Caring for Our Kids,” focuses on how pediatric hospitals are meeting the needs of their communities.

The Coalition to Strengthen America’s Healthcare Sept. 9 released a new advertisement, "Every Second Counts," which can be seen on television and digital outlets.

The AHA Sept. 9 urged the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to work with Congress on providing a pay increase for physicians in 2025 and develop a long-term plan for sustainable physician payment.

The AHA Sept. 9 commented on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid’s outpatient prospective payment system proposed rule for calendar year 2025, expressing concerns about shortcomings in the market basket forecast and update for hospital outpatient departments

The AHA Sept. 9 released a report highlighting how hospitals’ arrangements with community and specialty pharmacies improve access to care for underserved patients.

A district court in Baltimore Sept. 5 ruled against drug companies and PhRMA, denying their attempt to obtain a preliminary injunction against 340B pricing for contract pharmacy arrangements in Maryland, according to Reuters.

The departments of Labor, Health and Human Services and the Treasury Sept. 9 released a final rule ensuring commercial health plans comply with the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 and require mental health and substance use disorder benefits at the same level as medical and surgical benefits.

The AHA has developed an online hub of resources designed to enhance our nation’s public health preparedness, response and recovery efforts and support communities.

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Aug. 21 published guidance providing best practices for event logging to mitigate cyberthreats.

Veronica Gillispie-Bell, M.D., OB-GYN at Ochsner Health, discusses successful strategies to reduce maternal morbidity after childbirth, and how these solutions should always start with equity at the forefront.

Digital health consultancy AVIA reports that the use of artificial intelligence technologies is beginning to show demonstrable results in terms of patient care, operations efficiency and outcomes.

The AHA has released five new tip sheets designed to fortify crisis leadership competencies during emergency events such as cyberattacks, natural disasters and mass violence incidents.

The AHA Aug. 26 commented on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' home health prospective payment system proposed rule for calendar year 2025, expressing concerns about ongoing access challenges for beneficiaries needing home health care and the potential for the proposed rule to cause additional disruption.

Congress returns to Washington, D.C., next week following the summer recess, and lawmakers can expect a busy fall as they face a full plate of issues that need action.