News

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear yesterday repealed a requirement that some adult Medicaid beneficiaries work or engage in activities such as job training or volunteer work to remain eligible for coverage, effectively ending a legal challenge to the requirement in that state.

The AHA today urged the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to extend for 60 days – until March 17 – the comment period for its Medicaid fiscal accountability proposed rule.  

The AHA today applauded “the new direction” the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is taking to modify, modernize and clarify the physician self-referral law, also known as the Stark Law, to “provide space for the types of innovative arrangements among hospitals and physicians that can enhance care coordination, improve quality and reduce costs.” 

A federal judge today said hospitals must file claims next year to show the effects of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ calendar year 2020 final rule that reduces payments for hospital outpatient services provided in off-campus provider-based departments grandfathered under the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015. Judge Rosemary Collyer said today that her September ruling declaring the payment cuts unlawful was limited only to the 2019 final rule. 

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services today announced that it is extending the deadline to enroll in health insurance on the exchange to accommodate consumers who attempted to enroll in health coverage during the final hours of open enrollment but who may have experienced issues or delays.

The AHA’s Institute for Diversity and Health Equity and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois today announced a joint collaboration and one-year grant program to support hospitals in eliminating health care disparities and working toward ensuring individuals in every community receive safe, equitable and high-quality care.

For more than two centuries, our nation’s hospitals and health systems have faithfully provided our citizens with the best possible care. With courage, tremendous skill and compassion, America’s caregivers work tirelessly to heal, comfort, alleviate pain and save lives.

Leaders of the House and Senate Appropriations committees have reached an agreement in principle on fiscal year 2020 funding.

AHA and its American Organization for Nursing Leadership today voiced support for the Resolving Extended Limbo for Immigrant Employees and Families Act.

Medicare Advantage organizations received $6.7 billion in risk adjustment payments in 2017 for diagnoses that were not supported by the medical record.

The National Labor Relations Board today released a final rule revising union election procedures, which takes effect 120 days after its publication in the Dec. 18 Federal Register.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services yesterday approved two Section 1115 waivers allowing South Carolina to expand Medicaid eligibility to certain adults.

It’s critical that you tell your senators and representative to end surprise billing once and for all in a deliberative way that protects patients and ensures access to care.

The Department of Health and Human Services Dec. 12 announced that it intends to ask the U.S. Court of Appeals to reverse a district court ruling in favor of the AHA.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will automatically reprocess calendar year 2019 claims for hospital outpatient services provided in off-campus provider-based departments grandfathered under the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015.

House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard Neal, D-Mass., and Ranking Member Kevin Brady, R-Texas, yesterday announced a bipartisan agreement on legislation to protect patients from surprise medical bills.

The House of Representatives today voted 230-192 to approve the Lower Prescription Drug Costs Now Act.

The Senate today voted 72-18 to confirm Stephen Hahn, M.D., as Food and Drug Administration commissioner.

The Federal Communications Commission today proposed designating 988 as the national suicide prevention and mental health hotline number.

Hospitals and health systems investing in housing helps control costs while also ensuring that discharged patients have a safe and clean place to sleep each night, writes Jay Bhatt, D.O., AHA senior vice president and chief medical officer.