News

The Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Inspector General last week announced its intent to investigate Medicare Advantage Organizations’ prior authorization denials for post-acute care after a qualifying hospital stay.

Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure sent a letter July 2 to hospital and provider groups restating its position that the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act requires Medicare-participating hospitals to offer necessary stabilizing medical treatment (or transfer, if appropriate) to all patients who are found to have an emergency medical condition.

Peter Slavin, M.D., will be the next president and CEO of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and president and CEO of Cedars-Sinai Health System, effective Oct. 1, the health system announced July 2.

In a letter submitted July 2 to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on guidance for the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program, the AHA expressed concern about the agency’s proposal to retrospectively effectuate the policy.

The AHA July 2 submitted comments to the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency on its proposed rule establishing reporting requirements for cybersecurity incidents under the Cyber Incident Reporting for Critical Infrastructure Act.

The AHA sent a letter June 28 to the U.S. Trade Representative responding to a proposed increase in Section 301 tariffs for goods produced in China, which would include health care products.

A Mississippi judge July 1 denied Novartis Pharmaceuticals’ and PhRMA’s request for a preliminary injunction against enforcement of state law protecting 340B pricing for contract pharmacy arrangements.

Building and sustaining a strong and vibrant workforce is paramount for rural health care providers, but it is not easily achieved. In this conversation, Brandie Manuel, R.N., chief patient safety and quality officer at Jefferson Healthcare, discusses how the use of TeamSTEPPS and other tools are making a big difference in creating a thriving employee pipeline.

The AHA encourages hospitals and health systems that are making significant progress toward providing exceptional care based on the National Academy of Medicine’s six health care quality aims: safe, timely, effective, efficient, equitable and patient-centered care to apply for its 2025 Quest for Quality Prize by Sept. 13.

Changes to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' Hospital Price Transparency Rule took effect July 1. Going forward, hospitals are required to use a standard machine-readable file format, which includes some new data elements, such as the negotiated rate methodology and an accuracy and completeness statement.

One of the best things health care leaders can do while navigating a labyrinth of challenges is to talk with other leaders.

AHA June 27 released the first three of a series of videos highlighting various behavioral health roles and career paths in a hospital or health system, as well as the commitment and passion of current health care workers.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services June 28 announced the request for state applications for the Cell and Gene Therapy Access Model.

The Department of Health and Human Services Health Sector Cybersecurity Coordination Center June 27 issued an alert about a critical vulnerability in MOVEit, a common file transfer platform utilized in the health sector. The vulnerability exposes health care organizations to cyberattacks, especially ransomware and data breaches.

The Supreme Court June 28 overturned a 1984 ruling in Chevron U.S.A., Inc. v. Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc., which required courts to defer to federal agencies to interpret ambiguous laws.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services June 28 released a proposed rule on mitigating the impact of significant, anomalous and highly suspect (SAHS) billing activity on the Medicare Shared Savings Program financial calculations in calendar year 2023.

The AHA strongly urges hospital and health system leaders to take full advantage of one of the best windows of the year to communicate our field’s priorities and remind your elected officials of the crucial need for their support.

A joint report released June 26 by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, FBI, the Australian Cyber Security Centre and Canadian Centre for Cybersecurity provides roadmaps for addressing memory safety vulnerabilities in open source software.

The Department of Health and Human Services June 26 announced beneficiary coinsurance reductions for 64 prescription drugs available through Medicare Part B.

The AHA, 340B Health, the Maryland Hospital Association and the Mid-Atlantic Association of Community Health Centers June 26 filed an amicus brief in a federal district court in Maryland, defending the state's law protecting 340B pricing for contract pharmacy arrangements.