News

AHA today urged the Federal Communications Commission to reverse the “large and unexpected” funding cuts to Rural Health Care program participants in fiscal year 2017 and permanently adjust the program’s funding cap to prevent similar cuts in the future.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services seeks comments through May 25 on potential models for direct provider contracting (DPC) with physician practices in Medicare, Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program to reduce spending and administrative burden while enhancing quality and engaging patients and families in their care.

Humana and two private equity firms yesterday announced a definitive agreement to acquire Curo Health Services, a hospice operator that provides care to patients at 245 locations in 22 states.

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AHA today urged the departments of Treasury, Labor, and Health and Human Services not to finalize a proposed rule that would allow short-term, limited-duration health plans to provide coverage for up to 364 days, eliminating the current three-month limit.

A group called Orangeworm has been observed installing malicious software called a custom backdoor Trojan within large international corporations that operate in the health care sector in the United States, Europe and Asia, cybersecurity software company Symantec announced today.

AHA Friday voiced support for several legislative proposals before the House Energy and Commerce Committee to address the opioid crisis.

Inpatient prospective payment system hospitals and critical access hospitals that did not achieve meaningful use of electronic health records under the Medicare EHR Incentive Program for 2017 can now apply for a hardship exception.

AHA Trustee Services – accessible on the AHA’s website at trustees.aha.org – now is the hub for AHA’s trustee education efforts.

The House Energy & Commerce Committee today requested information from stakeholders on the cybersecurity challenges presented by legacy health care technologies and medical devices, and potential policies to address them.

The Department of Health and Human Services and other federal agencies today proposed delaying the general compliance date for 2018 requirements under the Common Rule to Jan. 21, 2019, which would give covered entities six additional months to implement the requirements.

Thirteen states participating in a regional collaborative to improve birth outcomes in the South decreased early elective deliveries by an average 22% between 2011 and 2014, compared with 14% in other regions.

As Virginia leaders work to find a state budget compromise that includes a health care coverage access plan, the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association and 30 other organizations representing health care providers yesterday issued a joint statement encouraging and supporting expanded access to health coverage for uninsured residents.

The theme for this year’s National Minority Health Month, “Partnering for Health Equity,” couldn’t be timelier.

The Senate Finance Committee today held a hearing on “tackling opioid and substance use disorders in Medicare, Medicaid and human services programs.”

The number of U.S. retail opioid prescriptions fell by 10.2% in 2017, including a 16.1% decline in high-dose prescriptions, according to a report released today by the IQVIA Institute for Human Data Science.

The Department of Health and Human Services yesterday awarded $485 million in grants to help states and territories combat the opioid crisis, the last of two funding rounds provided for in the 21st Century Cures Act.

Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar yesterday named Indiana insurance executive James Parker to direct the HHS Office of Health Reform and lead the department’s initiative to make health insurance more affordable and available.

Health care providers should not use endoscope connectors labeled for use without reprocessing between patients because they carry a risk of cross-contamination, the Food and Drug Administration announced today.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD) today introduced the Comprehensive Addiction Resources Emergency Act, legislation that would provide $100 billion in federal funding over 10 years to help states and communities address the opioid crisis.