News

The U.S. infant mortality rate was essentially unchanged in 2021, but the number of deaths rose 2% to 19,928, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Sept. 12

The Food and Drug Administration’s independent Nonprescription Drugs Advisory Committee Sept. 12 by unanimous vote declared oral phenylephrine ineffective as a decongestant.

As authorized Sept. 11 by the Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention today recommended a single dose of the updated Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines for Americans aged 12 and older, and one or two doses of the updated vaccines for previously vaccinated children aged six months through 4, at least two months after receipt of their last dose.

Sens. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and Marco Rubio, R-Fla., Sept. 12 introduced the Safety from Violence for Healthcare Employees Act, AHA-supported legislation that would make it a federal crime to assault health care workers in hospitals, with enhanced penalties for assaults that result in serious bodily injury.

Under the Department of Health and Human Services’ recent agreement with Regeneron to develop a new monoclonal antibody to prevent COVID-19, the U.S. list price for a new commercialized product could not exceed the retail price in comparable markets globally, HHS said.

Commenting on the physician fee schedule proposed rule for calendar year 2024, AHA urged the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to work with Congress to eliminate the budget neutrality cut to the payment update, expressing deep concern about the rule’s almost 3.3% proposed cut to reimbursement. 

September is National Preparedness Month. And today marks the 22nd anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the U.S.

In comments submitted today, AHA expressed strong concern about the proposed hospital outpatient market basket update, noting it “does not capture either the unprecedented inflationary environment or the other persistent financial headwinds hospitals and health systems are experiencing.”

Physical therapist Clare Fox with North Country Healthcare in New Hampshire shares with AHA’s Elisa Arespacochaga why she left her native England to pursue her health career dreams in the U.S., and how adopting the Lean Six Sigma process improvement approach has made all the difference.

A new Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services fact sheet reviews how the agency selected the first 10 Part D drugs to include in the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program, its process for negotiating with the companies that make the drugs, opportunities for public input and key dates for implementation.

The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline now offers American Sign Language services for people who are deaf and hard of hearing, the Department of Health and Human Services announced.

This season’s flu vaccines for the Southern Hemisphere have reduced the risk of being hospitalized for flu by 52%, based on mid-season data from five countries, suggesting the U.S. vaccines could provide similar protection if similar viruses continue to predominate, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports.

With only 11 days that the House and Senate are in session together before the fiscal year concludes, much of the attention in Washington is on how Congress will fund the government and whether there will be a government shutdown.

Based on an AHA-led discussion with hospital leaders, this resource shares strategies to foster equitable practices in maternal care at the patient and organizational level.

AHA is now accepting applications through Nov. 17 for the 2024 Carolyn Boone Lewis Equity of Care Awards, which will recognize the efforts of three outstanding hospital and health care systems in advancing health equity, diversity and inclusion.

A new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine recommends actions to improve access to pediatric subspecialty care

The Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for Civil Rights Sept. 7 released a proposed rule intended to update and clarify requirements under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act that prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability in programs receiving financial assistance from the department, including health care.

The U.S. Treasury Department, in coordination with the United Kingdom, Sept. 7 sanctioned 11 individuals who are part of the Russia-based Trickbot cybercrime group, whose targets have included hospitals and other critical infrastructure organizations.

Republicans on the House Energy and Commerce, Ways and Means, and Education & Workforce Committees have released a summary of draft legislation the committees could introduce as soon as this week.

Meritus Health President and CEO Maulik Joshi discusses the health system’s Care Callers Program, which enlists volunteers to phone patients on request to check on them and connect them with a caring human voice.