News

The Department of Health and Human Services Dec. 18 released new data on Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program enrollment changes since renewals for these programs started earlier this year, showing enrollment in Medicaid and CHIP is down significantly compared to peak enrollment during the pandemic.

The Justice Department and the Federal Trade Commission Dec. 18 jointly issued the 2023 merger guidelines describing how the agencies review mergers and acquisitions to determine compliance with federal antitrust laws.

On this episode, John Haupert, 2023 AHA board chair, talks with Joanne Conroy, M.D., CEO and president of Dartmouth Health and the incoming AHA chair. They reflect on challenges, opportunities and advancements in health care during the past year and discuss what’s ahead for next year.

The departments of Health and Human Services, Labor and the Treasury Dec. 15 reopened the federal independent dispute resolution portal to process all dispute types, including previously initiated batched disputes, new batched disputes and new single disputes involving air ambulance services.

Chicago-based RUSH University Medical Center launched its Community Health Workers Hub in 2018 to provide CHWs with the support they need to help combat health and life expectancy inequities throughout the city of Chicago.

The American Organization for Nursing Leadership on April 9 will present its 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award to Mary Beth Kingston, executive vice president and chief nursing officer at Charlotte, N.C.-based Advocate Health.

Two experts discuss how Northwestern Medicine’s Scholars of Wellness program is easing mental stress and burnout among its staff and could benefit hospitals and health systems across the nation.

State Medicaid agencies can apply next spring for funding and technical assistance to participate in the Transforming Maternal Health Model, a new 10-year payment and care delivery model that will develop and implement a whole-person approach to pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum care for women with Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program coverage.

At its December meeting this week, the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission expressed concern about the financial viability of Medicaid Disproportionate Share Hospitals if Congress fails to delay cuts scheduled to take effect Jan. 19.

Despite significant and ongoing challenges this year, hospitals and health systems can be proud of the job they do each and every day to care for our families, our friends and our neighbors.

Federal health officials are encouraged to nominate eligible commissioned officers for the AHA’s Federal Health Care Executive Awards for Excellence and Special Achievement, recognizing significant and lasting impact on military and/or public health care delivery.

Convening Leaders for Emergency and Response, AHA’s hub for emergency response and disaster preparedness resources, has released a “tip sheet” to help health care organizations effectively communicate with staff, patients and the larger community during a public health emergency.

A bipartisan group of senators  Dec.

CMS will conduct robust oversight to ensure Medicare Advantage organizations are complying with new access requirements for care and medications. Learn more.

Ellen Brzytwa, R.N., a trustee at the Cleveland Clinic, discusses her mission to recruit more nurses to hospital board positions.

The Federal Communications Commission Dec. 12 rejected an application by Starlink for nearly $900 million in Rural Digital Opportunity Funds to bring broadband services to rural locations, including health care facilities, concluding the application failed to demonstrate the company could deliver the promised service.

Seventy-three percent of U.S. commercial health insurance markets were highly concentrated in 2022, according to the latest annual report on health insurance competition by the American Medical Association.

The Department of Health and Human Services' Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology Dec. 13 released a final rule updating certification requirements for health information technology developers under its Health IT Certification Program.

U.S. health care spending increased 4.1% in 2022, far slower than gross domestic product due to slower spending for hospital and clinical services, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services reported Dec. 13 in Health Affairs.

Community health workers have become an essential component of RUSH University Medical Center’s efforts to minimize inequities in health and life expectancy. CHWs provide much-needed resources across the RUSH campus and several Chicago neighborhoods, while also being a driving force for partnerships and programming in a variety of care and community settings.