News

In a letter to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, AHA Jan. 2 expressed concern that a proposed rule intended to create disincentives for health care providers to interfere with the access, exchange or use of electronic health information could threaten the financial viability of economically fragile hospitals.

AHA Dec. 22 filed a friend-of-the-court brief in support of a Louisiana law that prohibits drug companies from denying Louisiana hospitals the same 340B discounts for drugs dispensed at community pharmacies that would be provided via in-house pharmacies.

The departments of Health and Human Services, Labor, and the Treasury, along with the Office of Personnel Management, Dec. 22 announced they intend to reopen the period for submitting comments on a proposed rule for new requirements relating to the disclosure of information that group health plans and health insurance issuers offering group or individual health insurance coverage must include.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services last week corrected a technical error in the displayed calendar year 2024 outpatient prospective payment system payment rate for APC 5061 (Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy).

The Government Accountability Office Dec. 21 recommended the Food and Drug Administration and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure and Security Agency update a 5-year-old agreement regarding medical device security.

A CDC study released Dec. 21 found low COVID-19 and flu vaccination coverage for most adults, and low RSV vaccination coverage for adults aged 60 and older.

The departments of Health and Human Services, Labor and Treasury Dec. 15 reopened the federal independent dispute resolution portal to process all dispute types.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Dec. 21 issued a proposed rule to provide additional appeals processes for Medicare beneficiaries in certain circumstances.

A webinar presented Dec. 7 by AHA's Hospital Against Violence initiative features discussion about facility safety and security strategies and the technologies that aim to mitigate workforce and workplace violence.

Three rural hospital and health system leaders discuss the new ways they are retaining their workforce and how they are proceeding to attract future generations of health care workers.

AHA Dec. 20 announced the leadership team from Queen’s North Hawaii Community Hospital, a 35-bed rural acute care hospital in Waimea, Hawaii, as the recipient of the association's 2023 Rural Hospital Leadership Team Award.

More than 15 million people have selected a 2024 health plan through the federally facilitated or state-based marketplaces, a 33% increase compared to last year, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services reported Dec. 20.

The Department of Justice announced Dec. 19 the launch of a disruption campaign against a ransomware group that has targeted the computer networks of more than 1,000 victims, including networks that support critical U.S. infrastructure.

The FBI, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and Australian Cyber Security Centre Dec. 18 released a warning about actions and tactics used by the Play ransomware group.

The Department of Labor Dec. 19 proposed rescinding a 2018 final rule which modified the definition of “employer” under federal law such that more individuals, including sole proprietors, were eligible to participate in association health plans based on geography or industry.

The departments of Health and Human Services, Labor and the Treasury Dec. 18 released a final rule that increases the administrative fee for disputes initiated under the No Surprises Act independent dispute resolution process from $50 to $115 per party per dispute.

Positive psychology exercises can make a big difference on health care workers’ mental health, writes Bryan Sexton, director of the Duke Center for the Advancement of Well-being Science.

Beginning the new year by making healthy choices is the focus of AHA's latest social media toolkit encouraging vaccination against the flu and COVID-19.

A recent New York Times op-ed falsely claims hospitals are not living up to their mission, but the author ignores the myriad benefits hospitals provide to their communities, writes AHA President and CEO Rick Pollack.

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Dec. 15 released an advisory on ways health care organizations can enhance their cybersecurity protection.