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The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, departments of Housing and Urban Development and Agriculture, Administration for Community Living, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Health Resources and Services Administration released a joint informational bulletin to help states better coordinate federal resources and programs to improve rural health and housing for older adults and those with disabilities.

The Health Resources and Services Administration awarded $35 million in grants to support rural hospitals and health care.

Due to the COVID-19 public health emergency, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services extended the Sept. 1 deadline for hospitals to apply for reclassification of their Medicare area wage index for fiscal year 2022 until 15 days after the agency releases its inpatient prospective payment system final rule for FY 2021.

The AHA sent letters to the heads of U.S. operations for five large drug companies — Merck, Eli Lilly, Sanofi, Novartis and AstraZeneca — expressing “profound concern” over actions they are taking to limit the distribution of certain 340B drugs to hospitals and health systems and asking them to “cease this conduct immediately.”

August is traditionally the time to take a break, go on vacation, or just slow it down and relax for a bit. For many people, that’s off the table this year. COVID-19’s impact on health, our economy and our ability to gather in groups has been a game changer for people’s personal plans.

The Food and Drug Administration authorized emergency use of a rapid point-of-care antigen test to detect SARS-CoV-2 directly from nasal swab specimens.

Jim Skogsbergh, president and CEO of Milwaukee-based Advocate Aurora Health and former AHA chair, Monday participated in a Democratic National Convention roundtable discussion on protecting and strengthening America’s health care system, improving equitable access to quality health care and respecting caregivers.

Despite the recent attention on health inequities endured by Black, Indigenous and people of color and efforts to close health equity gaps, disparities in behavioral health care persist within these communities, writes Rebecca Chickey, senior director of AHA’s Behavioral Health Services and Field Engagement.

Statistics show that doula services — which provide help and suggestions on comfort measures such as breathing, relaxation, movement and positioning — are effective in reducing stress and anxiety in expectant mothers, while improving birthing experience and outcomes.

AHA President and CEO Rick Pollack discusses the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on hospitals with former CNN anchor Frank Sesno, director of The George Washington University School of Media and Public Affairs and host of the Healthy You: Surviving a Pandemic podcast series.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices released its recommendations for the 2020-2021 flu season, which continue to advise yearly flu vaccination for all people aged 6 months and older.

Aug. 30 is the deadline for skilled nursing facilities to preview their quality measure data for the Nursing Home Compare website refresh in October and ask the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to review their data if they believe the scores are inaccurate.

SCA Pharmaceuticals has recalled 10 lots of compounded heparin sodium, an anticoagulant packaged in 500 mL or 1000 mL intravenous bags, the Food and Drug Administration announced.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services yesterday published guidance for states on the treatment of third party payers in determining the hospital-specific Medicaid disproportionate share hospital payment limits for the state plan rate year 2017 DSH audits.

The AHA urged the Office of Management and Budget to expedite its review and release of final regulations on physician self-referral and the Anti-Kickback Statute that were submitted in July by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the Department of Health & Human Services Office of Inspector General.

The Department of Health and Human Services amended the declaration under the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act to authorize state-licensed pharmacists and pharmacy interns under their supervision to order and administer vaccines to children, subject to certain requirements.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a study examining how COVID-19 is affecting American Indians and Alaska Natives — one of the populations at highest risk for the disease.

The Food and Drug Administration released a resource to help U.S. health care providers select respirators for their health care facility.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health released a report summarizing the particulate filtration efficiency of non-NIOSH-approved N95 respirators made in other countries and authorized for emergency use during the COVID-19 public health emergency.

The AHA urged President Trump and the Department of Health and Human Services to continue to act on behalf of hospitals and health systems by further expanding telehealth flexibilities.