http://www.aha.org/aha_app/whatsnew/index.jsp What's New on aha.org. en-us help@aha.org Copyright 2006, American Hospital Association. AHA In house http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss 2009-11-20 2009-11-20 http://www.aha.org/aha/advocacy-update/2009/091119-bulletin.html Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) last night unveiled the "Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act" (H.R. 3590). November 19, 2009 http://www.aha.org/aha/advisory/2009/091116-legislative-adv.pdf On Saturday, November 7, the House passed by a vote of 220 to 215 the Affordable Health Care for America Act of 2009 (H.R. 3962). The bill, which reflects the outcome of the mark-up of three committees with jurisdiction over health care reform as well as negotiations conducted by the House leadership, is estimated by the Congressional Budget Office to expand coverage to 36 million people (96 percent of all those legally residing in the U.S. or 94 percent of all those residing in the country) and cost $1.052 trillion over the 10-year period (fiscal years 2010-2019). November 16, 2009 http://www.aha.org/aha/advisory/2009/091113-regulatory-adv.pdf On October 30, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the outpatient prospective payment system (OPPS) and ambulatory surgical center (ASC) final rule for calendar year (CY) 2010. November 13, 2009 http://www.aha.org/aha/advisory/2009/091110-regulatory-adv.pdf The HHS recently released an interim final rule updating the enforcement rule for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). These updates were necessitated by the passage of the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH). November 10, 2009 http://www.aha.org/aha/trendwatch/2009/twnov09geovariation.pdf Researchers have long documented variation in health care spending. Variation occurs across geographic regions and among providers within a geographic area. November 10, 2009 http://www.aha.org/aha/press-release/2009/091108-st-housebill.html Last night, the House took an historic step in making health reform a reality. While the House bill makes important progress in expanding coverage, an important goal for hospitals, there are areas for improvement. November 08, 2009