http://www.aha.org/?ref=rss_whatsnew AHA.org - Our vision is a society of healthy communities where all individuals reach their highest potential for health. en-us Copyright 2012 American Hospital Association Sat, 11 Feb 2012 23:28:56 CST http://www.aha.org/?ref=rss_whatsnew http://i.aha.org/inc-aha/i/aha-logo-plain.gif 104 61 http://www.aha.org/advocacy-issues/letter/2012/120210-cl-fda-2011-n-0898.pdf?ref=rss_whatsnewhttp://www.aha.org/advocacy-issues/letter/2012/120210-cl-fda-2011-n-0898.pdf?ref=rss_whatsnewAHA comments on the Food and Drug Administration's interim final rule amending its postmarketing reporting regulations to modify the term "discontinuance" and clarify the term "sole manufacturer" with respect to notification of discontinuance requirements.Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:00:00 CSThttp://www.aha.org/presscenter/pressrel/2012/120207-pr-psychchair.pdf?ref=rss_whatsnewhttp://www.aha.org/presscenter/pressrel/2012/120207-pr-psychchair.pdf?ref=rss_whatsnewBruce Schwartz, M.D., deputy chairman and professor of clinical psychiatry of the department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, N.Y., and CEO, president and medical director of University Behavioral Associates and MBCIPA, is the 2012 chair of the American Hospital Association's (AHA) Section for Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Services. Tue, 07 Feb 2012 00:00:00 CSThttp://www.aha.org/presscenter/pressrel/2012/120202-pr-scheduleh.pdf?ref=rss_whatsnewhttp://www.aha.org/presscenter/pressrel/2012/120202-pr-scheduleh.pdf?ref=rss_whatsnewA new report by Ernst & Young found that not-for-profit hospitals spend an average of 11.3 percent of their total expenses on benefits to their communities. Starting in 2009, not-for-profit hospitals were required to file Schedule H with the Internal Revenue Service to show the community benefit they provide.Thu, 02 Feb 2012 00:00:00 CSThttp://www.aha.org/content/12/09-sche-h-benchmark.pdf?ref=rss_whatsnewhttp://www.aha.org/content/12/09-sche-h-benchmark.pdf?ref=rss_whatsnewTo better understand the diverse ways hospitals serve their communities, the American Hospital Association undertook a project to collect and analyze the community benefit information that not-for profit hospitals filed with the Internal Revenue Service in 2009 in a form the IRS calls 'Schedule H.Thu, 02 Feb 2012 00:00:00 CSThttp://www.aha.org/advocacy-issues/letter/2012/120202-let-healthorgs-OMB.pdf?ref=rss_whatsnewhttp://www.aha.org/advocacy-issues/letter/2012/120202-let-healthorgs-OMB.pdf?ref=rss_whatsnewSchedule, and in particular Section V.B. of the Schedule, contains redundancies, inconsistencies, onerous reporting requirements and undefined terms, which compliance with the [PRA] might have eliminated, the groups said. The letter details how the IRS failed to follow PRA procedures in issuing the revised schedule, and asks OMB to direct the agency to withdraw Section V.B. of the schedule or make it optional for 2011, and issue a substantially improved Schedule H form and instructions for OThu, 02 Feb 2012 00:00:00 CSThttp://www.aha.org/advocacy-issues/letter/2012/120201-congress-halo.pdf?ref=rss_whatsnewhttp://www.aha.org/advocacy-issues/letter/2012/120201-congress-halo.pdf?ref=rss_whatsnewAmerica's hospitals and health systems letter to Congress expressing concern that cuts in Medicare and Medicaid payments for hospital services are again on the table as part of the upcoming House-Senate conference committee on H.R. 3630.Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:00:00 CSThttp://www.aha.org/advocacy-issues/letter/2012/120201-let-pollack-thompson.pdf?ref=rss_whatsnewhttp://www.aha.org/advocacy-issues/letter/2012/120201-let-pollack-thompson.pdf?ref=rss_whatsnewAHA letter to Rep. Thomas expressing support of The Rural Hospital and Provider Equity Act of 2011 (R-HoPE).Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:00:00 CSThttp://www.aha.org/advocacy-issues/letter/2012/120201-let-pollack-rodgers.pdf?ref=rss_whatsnewhttp://www.aha.org/advocacy-issues/letter/2012/120201-let-pollack-rodgers.pdf?ref=rss_whatsnewAHA letter to Rep. Rodgers expressing support of the Rural Hospital and Provider Equity Act of 2011 (R-HoPE).Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:00:00 CSThttp://www.aha.org/advocacy-issues/letter/2012/120127-cl-CCII0.pdf?ref=rss_whatsnewhttp://www.aha.org/advocacy-issues/letter/2012/120127-cl-CCII0.pdf?ref=rss_whatsnewAHA comments to CMS regarding Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight's (CCIIO) Essential Health Benefits Bulletin released December 16 that outlines the proposed regulatory approach to define EHBs under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.Fri, 27 Jan 2012 00:00:00 CSThttp://www.aha.org/research/reports/tw/12jan-tw-behavhealth.pdf?ref=rss_whatsnewhttp://www.aha.org/research/reports/tw/12jan-tw-behavhealth.pdf?ref=rss_whatsnewOpportunities to Improve Quality, Costs and Outcomes, TrendwatchThu, 26 Jan 2012 00:00:00 CSThttp://www.aha.org/presscenter/pressrel/2012/120126-pr-coalitionad.pdf?ref=rss_whatsnewhttp://www.aha.org/presscenter/pressrel/2012/120126-pr-coalitionad.pdf?ref=rss_whatsnewThe Coalition to Protect America's Health Care today launched a national advertising campaign to urge Congress not to cut Medicare and Medicaid funding for hospital care.Thu, 26 Jan 2012 00:00:00 CSThttp://www.aha.org/advocacy-issues/tools-resources/advisory/2012/012512-regulatory-adv.pdf?ref=rss_whatsnewhttp://www.aha.org/advocacy-issues/tools-resources/advisory/2012/012512-regulatory-adv.pdf?ref=rss_whatsnewThe Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services in the November 4, 2011 Federal Register published the calendar year 2012 final rule for the home health prospective payment system (PPS).Wed, 25 Jan 2012 00:00:00 CSThttp://www.aha.org/presscenter/pressrel/2012/120124-pr-foster.pdf?ref=rss_whatsnewhttp://www.aha.org/presscenter/pressrel/2012/120124-pr-foster.pdf?ref=rss_whatsnewIn honor of its broad-based efforts to improve the lives of the most vulnerable members of its community, Mt. Ascutney Hospital and Health Center (MAHHC) in Windsor, Vt., is the recipient of the 2011 Foster G. McGaw Prize for Excellence in Community Service, one of the most esteemed community service honors in healthcare.Tue, 24 Jan 2012 00:00:00 CSThttp://www.aha.org/content/12/hoganlovells-baddebt.pdf?ref=rss_whatsnewhttp://www.aha.org/content/12/hoganlovells-baddebt.pdf?ref=rss_whatsnewA report by Hogan Lovells US LLPThu, 19 Jan 2012 00:00:00 CSThttp://www.aha.org/presscenter/pressrel/2012/120119-pr-jobsreport.pdf?ref=rss_whatsnewhttp://www.aha.org/presscenter/pressrel/2012/120119-pr-jobsreport.pdf?ref=rss_whatsnewAn updated analysis by Tripp Umbach, a firm specializing in conducting economic impact studies, finds that an additional 83,000 jobs could be lost if the Medicare cuts to hospital care included in H.R. 3630 (legislation extending the Social Security tax holiday, unemployment insurance and the physician fix), passed by the House, are implemented. Thu, 19 Jan 2012 00:00:00 CSThttp://www.aha.org/presscenter/pressrel/2012/120117-pr-metrochair2012.pdf?ref=rss_whatsnewhttp://www.aha.org/presscenter/pressrel/2012/120117-pr-metrochair2012.pdf?ref=rss_whatsnewFred Rothstein, M.D., president of University Hospitals Case Medical Center in Cleveland, Ohio, will lead the American Hospital Association's (AHA) Section for Metropolitan Hospitals as chair of its 24-member governing council for 2012.Tue, 17 Jan 2012 00:00:00 CSThttp://www.aha.org/advocacy-issues/letter/2012/120104-cl-emeasurereqs.pdf?ref=rss_whatsnewhttp://www.aha.org/advocacy-issues/letter/2012/120104-cl-emeasurereqs.pdf?ref=rss_whatsnewThis letter briefly summarizes early hospital field experience with the meaningful use Stage 1 eMeasures. It then addresses the specific questions posed by the NQF.Tue, 17 Jan 2012 00:00:00 CSThttp://www.aha.org/advocacy-issues/alert/2012/120113-laa.shtml?ref=rss_whatsnewhttp://www.aha.org/advocacy-issues/alert/2012/120113-laa.shtml?ref=rss_whatsnewCongress returns next week to a great deal of unfinished business. Fri, 13 Jan 2012 00:00:00 CSThttp://www.aha.org/presscenter/pressrel/2012/120113-pr-smallruralchair.pdf?ref=rss_whatsnewhttp://www.aha.org/presscenter/pressrel/2012/120113-pr-smallruralchair.pdf?ref=rss_whatsnewStaci Covey, president of Guthrie's Troy Community Hospital in Troy, Pa., will lead the American Hospital Association's (AHA) Section for Small or Rural Hospitals in 2012.Fri, 13 Jan 2012 00:00:00 CSThttp://www.aha.org/presscenter/pressrel/2012/120112-pr-mchchair.pdf?ref=rss_whatsnewhttp://www.aha.org/presscenter/pressrel/2012/120112-pr-mchchair.pdf?ref=rss_whatsnewPatricia A. Warner, executive director of the University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children's and Von Voigtlander Women's Hospitals in Ann Arbor, Mich. is the 2012 chair of the American Hospital Association's Section for Maternal and Child Health. Thu, 12 Jan 2012 00:00:00 CST