News

Hospitals provide over $110 billion a year in community benefits, almost nine times the value of their federal tax exemption, according to an AHA advertorial today in the Wall Street Journal highlighting the data and programs that “distinguish hospitals from any other sector in health care.” 

The AHA today joined 62 other national organizations in urging leaders of the House and Senate Judiciary committees to pass the bipartisan Conrad State 30 and Physician Access Reauthorization Act before the end of this legislative session.

Remaining resilient as new variants of COVID-19 spread. Launching mobile health services to help ensure equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services today issued its final rule for fiscal year 2023 for the skilled nursing facility prospective payment system.

The Department of Health and Human Services has released a tool to help hospital emergency planners and supply chain staff estimate their supply needs for mass casualty incidents and infectious disease emergencies.

The departments of Health and Human Services and Justice today released guidance on federal telehealth protections for people with disabilities and limited English proficiency. 

The Department of Health and Human Services has agreed to purchase 66 million doses of Moderna’s omicron-specific COVID-19 vaccine booster for use this fall if authorized by the Food and Drug Administration and recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

AHA today urged Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra to renew the COVID-19 public health emergency set to expire in October.

Delaying and denying authorizations for medically necessary care. Forcing patients to try potentially ineffective treatments through step therapy, or “fail first” protocols that require patients to try and fail certain treatments before the insurer will authorize more costly treatments.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services today released a Request for Information seeking public comment to inform potential future rulemaking on various aspects of the Medicare Advantage program

Northwell Health’s Gun Violence Prevention Learning Collaborative for Hospitals and Health Systems July 27 hosted a session on the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act.

Michelle Hood, AHA executive vice president and chief operating officer, participated in a U.S. News and World Report panel discussion on “How Hospitals are Taking on Shortages and Operational Challenges.”

Nursing schools and health care facilities can apply through Aug. 22 for a portion of $10 million in funding to recruit, train and support clinical nursing faculty and preceptors, the Health Resources and Services Administration announced.

The Department of Health and Human Services has secured an additional 786,000 doses of JYNNEOS monkeypox vaccine.

The share of uninsured Americans fell 1.5 percentage point to 8% between first-quarter 2021 and first-quarter 2022, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported.

The House yesterday voted 416-12 to pass the Advancing Telehealth Beyond COVID-19 Act, legislation that would continue Medicare patient access to telehealth services, including audio-only services, through 2024 after the COVID-19 public health emergency.

Reps.

Today AHA released a report showing that commercial insurance costs are increasing at an unsustainable rate while many plan policies create dangerous delays in care, contribute to clinician burnout and significantly drive up administrative costs for the health care system.

Like many hospitals and health systems across the nation, the AdventHealth Central Florida Division is experiencing a shortage of nurses. According to the Florida Hospital Association, the state could face a shortfall of nearly 60,000 nurses by 2035 if changes aren’t made in inspiring, recruiting and supporting nursing students and nurses.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services today issued a final rule to update hospice payment rates for fiscal year 2023.