News

Hospitals spend close to $360 million each year to manage drug shortages, according to a study released this week by Vizient Inc.

Tax-exempt hospitals in the 340B drug savings program provided $56.1 billion in total benefits to their communities in 2016, the most recent year for which data is available, according to an analysis released today by the AHA.

A new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine calls for a national strategy to reduce cancer incidence and mortality and improve quality of life for survivors.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services yesterday approved Louisiana’s Medicaid plan amendment allowing supplemental rebate agreement negotiations with prescription drug makers for Hepatitis C therapies.

The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions today voted 20-3 to pass the Lower Health Care Costs Act (S.1895) – bipartisan legislation focused on reducing health care costs.

The House Ways and Means Committee today passed the Opioid Workforce Act (H.R. 3414), AHA-supported legislation that would add 1,000 Medicare-funded training positions in hospitals with approved residency programs in addiction medicine, addiction psychiatry or pain management.

State Medicaid agencies can apply through Aug. 9 for planning grants to expand provider capacity to deliver substance use disorder treatment and recovery services, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced yesterday.

The Department of Labor is tapping into the AHA and its professional membership groups to help expand health care apprenticeship programs across the country.

Minnesota Hospital Association President and CEO Lawrence “Lorry” Massa will retire in September, the association announced yesterday.

In a letter today to leaders of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, the AHA and five other national hospital groups said they agree with the need to protect American families from the problem of “surprise medical bills,” but have “serious concerns” with a provision of the Lower Health Care Costs Act.

President Trump yesterday signed the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness and Advancing Innovation Act (S. 1379), which cleared Congress earlier this month.

The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Friday released an updated national plan for federal investment in artificial intelligence research and development, which defines priority areas for investment in health care and other sectors.

The Health Resources and Services Administration this week announced its Health Professional Shortage Areas for primary care, mental health and dental care as of May 1.

President Trump today issued an executive order aimed at improving health care price transparency and reducing costs. Most notably, the order instructs the Department of Health and Human Services to issue a proposed regulation within 60 days requiring hospitals to “publicly post standard charge information, including charges and information based on negotiated rates and for common or shoppable items and services, in an easy-to-understand, consumer-friendly, and machine-readable format.”  

Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee leaders today released a manager’s amendment to the Lower Health Care Costs Act of 2019 (S.1895) – bipartisan legislation focused on reducing health care costs – making several updates to the bill.

The AHA today submitted comments on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ hospital inpatient prospective payment system proposed rule for fiscal year 2020.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Friday issued several new or updated frequently asked questions documents on the Bundled Payments for Care Improvement Advanced Model, an Advanced Alternative Payment Model launched last October that will run through 2023.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Friday finalized its decision to update Medicare’s national coverage policy for hospitals and physicians offering a transcatheter aortic valve replacement program to treat aortic stenosis.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services last week issued guidance outlining certain assurances that state Medicaid agencies should make “to ensure that program resources are reserved for those who meet eligibility requirements.”

This weekend, I was pleased to participate in a robust, AHA-sponsored discussion as part of the Aspen Ideas: Health Festival on how hospitals and health systems are adapting to this new push beyond our traditional boundaries, and what this shift means for affordability, patient outcomes and the care experience.