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The latest stories from AHA Today.
Kathleen Becker, president of SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital in St. Louis, will lead the AHA's Constituency Section for Metropolitan Hospitals as 2018 chair of its governing council. Dennis Pullin, president and CEO of Virtua Health in Marlton, NJ, is council chair-elect and will become…
The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission yesterday recommended that Congress increase Medicare base payment rates for hospital inpatient and outpatient services by 1.25% in 2019, as provided under current law. In other voting, the commission recommended that the Health and Human Services Secretary…
The flu hospitalization rate rose to 22.7 per 100,000 people in the first week of January from 17.7 the prior week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported today. Every state but Hawaii reported widespread flu activity, while the District of Columbia has local activity. H3N2 A…
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services today approved a Section 1115 Medicaid demonstration waiver for Kentucky that will require some adult beneficiaries to work or participate in other “community engagement” activities, such as job training or community service, to remain eligible…
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will host a Jan. 23 conference call for Medicaid providers and agencies on the transition to the new Medicare beneficiary identifier.
Joan Coffman, president and CEO of Hospital Sisters Health System St. Mary’s Hospital in Decatur, IL, will lead the AHA's Section for Small or Rural Hospitals in 2018. Coffman will chair the section's 19-person governing council, which represents small or rural hospitals in the AHA's policy process…
Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI) today introduced the Hospital Preparedness Program Reauthorization Act of 2018, which would increase the level of federal funding authorized to support regional health care systems in preparing for natural disasters and other threats. The HPP, created after 9/11, is…
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services today issued policy guidance for states proposing demonstration projects that require or encourage working-aged Medicaid beneficiaries who are not pregnant or disabled to participate in work or other “community engagement” activities, such as…
Hospitals reduced central line-associated bloodstream infections by 50% between 2008 and 2016, according to a new progress summary by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The report also shows progress by hospitals in reducing other healthcare-associated infections, including…
The Food and Drug Administration today announced four priority areas for additional policy activity in 2018: reducing addiction to opioid drugs and cigarettes; promoting innovation and competition; empowering consumers to make informed decisions; and strengthening the FDA workforce.