News

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.

The Department of Health and Human Services and Operation Warp Speed said it will immediately broaden the population of those eligible to be vaccinated from COVID-19. In an effort to quickly increase the number of vaccinated individuals, the federal government will ask states to begin vaccinating patients over the age of 65 and those with underlying health conditions that place them at risk for COVID-19.

The National Mass Violence Victimization Resource Center recently released two resources highlighting tips to help individuals cope and survive during a crisis. The first resource outlines 12 self-help tips for coping in the aftermath of the attack on the U.S. Capitol last week.

The Health Resources and Services Administration’s Federal Office of Rural Health Policy finalized its proposal to add additional counties to the list of geographic areas considered rural and therefore eligible for rural health grants.

As part of AHA’s Hospitals Against Violence initiative, the AHA, Jones Day and HEAL Trafficking are partnering to provide new resources to health care providers who are fighting human trafficking.

UnitedHealthcare has suspended through the end of this month certain prior authorization requirements for in-network hospitals and skilled nursing facilities in its Medicare Advantage, Medicaid, individual and group health plans.

The AHA provided comments to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ proposed changes to the hospital and hospital health care complex cost report.

The COVID-19 pandemic has confirmed the strategic rationale underlying many hospital and health system mergers and acquisitions and may be acting as a catalyst for innovative strategic partnerships and tactical transactions, according to a new report by management consultancy KaufmanHall.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce released a compilation of perspectives on the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on various sectors and the outlook for 2021.

I have no doubt that Americans and people all over the world are looking forward to turning the page to a new year. The challenges the health care field encountered in 2020 due to the global pandemic have been intense both personally and professionally. But hope is growing for 2021 with the initial rollout of COVID-19 vaccines and much more to come. At a time when the country needs us most, hospitals and health care professionals continue to respond with excellence and compassion as we care for patients, families and communities.

Making everyone part of the solution and collaborations between clinical and hospital leadership is key to navigating the pandemic. In this first in a four-part series on lessons learned on the front lines, read about how teamwork at both Henry Ford Health System and Medisys Health Network accomplished greatness.

The AHA, through its Hospitals Against Violence initiative, encourages hospitals and health systems to educate and engage to #EndTrafficking.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services approved Tennessee’s request to have the state receive Medicaid funding through a block grant, which would give the state more authority to make changes to the Medicaid program.