The AHA Dick Davidson NOVA Awards recognize the collaborative work of hospitals and community organizations to improve the health status of individuals and communities. Applications for the 2022 awards are now available and accepted through Friday, Nov. 19.

AHA issued a Special Bulletin with details about a new fact sheet from the Health Resources and Services Administration outlining personnel-related costs, such as recruiting and retention expenses, that can be covered by Provider Relief Fund dollars. It also lists upcoming PRF reporting deadlines.

Two new AHA Public Service Announcement videos, I Am a Provider and On the Fence, encourage the unvaccinated to take the vaccine. Members can customize these videos to promote vaccinations in their communities.

The Food and Drug Administration has granted full approval for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for individuals age 16 and over. The vaccine, which will now be marketed as Comirnaty, is the first COVID-19 vaccine to go beyond emergency use status in the United States.

There are still plenty of questions surrounding COVID-19 vaccine options for schoolchildren as they prepare to gather in large groups again. For that reason, AHA has launched a comprehensive outreach effort this month to put reliable, scientific and up-to-date information into the hands of parents and communities by addressing many common questions and concerns.

The AHA Living Learning Network presents a look back at the COVID-19 pandemic in a new digital look book called The Pandemic: A Time of Challenges and Champions.

AHA shared with the National Economic Council, Federal Trade Commission, and departments of Health and Human Services and Justice the updated study Hospital Merger Benefits: An Econometric Analysis Revisited by Charles River Associates on the benefits of mergers within the hospital field. The study confirms that contemporary hospital mergers result in significant cost savings and quality improvements without an increase in revenue.

The AHA Board of Trustees approved a policy statement on the mandatory vaccination of health care workers.

CMS has released the calendar year 2022 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System proposed rule. See AHA’s summary and statement on the regulation.

New PSAs, including one with AMA and ANA, encourage people to seek the answers they need and ask the questions that will help them understand, become confident in COVID-19 vaccines. AHA members may adapt locally, learn more.

View the detailed summary and key takeaways from the regulations released July 1.

On this new episode, Dr. Hochman discusses the COVID-19 pandemic and public health infrastructure with Mike Slubowski, president and CEO at Trinity Health, a Catholic health system that serves communities in 25 states.

Leverage comparative financial and operational data straight from your hospital peers for better decision making.

AHA is collaborating with a number of leading blood bank organizations and other key health care leaders in ongoing efforts aim to help hospitals and health systems conserve blood supply and encourage donations throughout the summer.

Many healthcare organizations share opposition to the use of an extension of mandatory sequestration, as well as unspent COVID-19 provider relief funds, as financing sources for any infrastructure package.

The AHA continues to curate ready-to-use tools from trusted experts while developing new, additional resources to help hospitals quickly and effectively share sound messages and accurate information on COVID-19 vaccines.

AHA Member-Only Resources

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ Hospital Price Transparency final rule went into effect on Jan. 1, 2021. AHA offers resources to help members meet patient demand for easier access to out-of-pocket cost estimates.