News

CMS updated its FAQ for state Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program agencies, answering questions related to flexibilities related to managed care, benefits, financing, Section 1115 demonstrations, and Section 1135 waivers offered as part of the president’s declaration of a national emergency. 

U.S. Pharmacopeia issued guidance on strategies for conserving sterile compounding personal protective equipment and for compounding alcohol-based hand sanitizers to address consumer shortages during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Moody’s Investors Service revised its outlook for the U.S. nonprofit hospital and health care sector from stable to negative, saying revenue will likely decline as hospitals cancel elective surgeries and other services to prepare for a surge of coronavirus cases.

The AHA has released a compendium of resources for hospitals and health systems related to cybersecurity threats during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Robyn Begley, CEO of AHA’s American Organization for Nursing Leadership, attended a White House meeting with President Trump, Vice President Pence, members of the Coronavirus Task Force and leadership from national nursing organizations to discuss nursing’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.    

AHA launched a digital community for member hospital and health system CEOs, where they can receive daily updates on the novel coronavirus and share questions and experiences with their colleagues and the AHA team.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services yesterday issued guidance 

The AHA and 17 other organizations representing health care providers, insurers, suppliers and others urged Congress to take certain immediate actions to strengthen health care capacity and ensure a stable supply of critical resources to address the novel coronavirus. 

The AHA, American Medical Association and American Nurses Association urged congressional leaders to provide $100 billion to front line health care personnel and providers and “direct the federal agencies to begin to infuse funds immediately so that they can afford to take the necessary steps to fight” the novel coronavirus outbreak (COVID-19).

The Senate passed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (H.R. 6201). The House of Representatives March 16 passed by unanimous consent a revised version of the bill that made technical corrections to the legislation that the House originally approved March 14.

President Trump today invoked the Defense Production Act to expand production of ventilators, masks and other emergency medical supplies.

About 80% of deaths and 45% of hospitalizations for COVID-19 in the U.S. are among adults aged 65 or older, with the risk of serious illness and death increasing with age, according to a report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The AHA joined physician and other groups urging the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to take steps to ensure COVID-19 does not derail the Alternative Payment Model and value movement.

The Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for Civil Rights will immediately exercise its enforcement discretion and waive potential penalties for HIPAA violations against health care providers that serve patients through everyday communications technologies during the COVID-19 nationwide public health emergency, the agency announced. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will implement the new specific ICD-10-CM code for COVID-19, U07.1, April 1 rather than Oct. 1 as originally planned, the agency said.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has updated its COVID-19 FAQ page for health care professionals, including links to relevant guidance and resources.

CMS released COVID-19 infection control guidance for Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) organizations, noting that there may be circumstances where a PACE organization may need to implement strategies that do not fully comply with CMS PACE program requirements.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services today announced several waivers and policy changes to broaden access to telehealth services for Medicare beneficiaries during the COVID-19 public health emergency.

Coronavirus Update: Federal agencies announce emergency waivers, guidance; guidelines on mass gatherings; FDA spurs faster test results with policy change; cyberattack targets HHS, COVID-19 misinformation and more.

As our nation’s strategy to combat the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to evolve, hospitals and health systems remain on the front lines of this outbreak.