News

About 80% of deaths and 45% of hospitalizations for COVID-19 in the U.S. are among adults aged 65 or older, with the risk of serious illness and death increasing with age, according to a report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The AHA joined physician and other groups urging the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to take steps to ensure COVID-19 does not derail the Alternative Payment Model and value movement.

The Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for Civil Rights will immediately exercise its enforcement discretion and waive potential penalties for HIPAA violations against health care providers that serve patients through everyday communications technologies during the COVID-19 nationwide public health emergency, the agency announced. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will implement the new specific ICD-10-CM code for COVID-19, U07.1, April 1 rather than Oct. 1 as originally planned, the agency said.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has updated its COVID-19 FAQ page for health care professionals, including links to relevant guidance and resources.

CMS released COVID-19 infection control guidance for Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) organizations, noting that there may be circumstances where a PACE organization may need to implement strategies that do not fully comply with CMS PACE program requirements.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services today announced several waivers and policy changes to broaden access to telehealth services for Medicare beneficiaries during the COVID-19 public health emergency.

Coronavirus Update: Federal agencies announce emergency waivers, guidance; guidelines on mass gatherings; FDA spurs faster test results with policy change; cyberattack targets HHS, COVID-19 misinformation and more.

As our nation’s strategy to combat the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to evolve, hospitals and health systems remain on the front lines of this outbreak. 

As urged by the AHA and other health groups, President Trump today declared a national emergency in response to the COVI-19 outbreak.

AHA's Physician Alliance will host a March 17 webinar on the National Taskforce for Humanity in Healthcare model for preventing burnout and promoting resilience, well-being and joy in the health care workforce.

AHA President and CEO Rick Pollack provides perspective on the state of hospital preparedness in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Only half of adults in their early 50s received a recommended screening test for colorectal cancer in 2018, according to a new Vital Signs report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission released its March report to Congress. The report details the fee-for-service payment recommendations for 2021 approved by the commission in January, including recommendations for hospital services and post-acute care.

The AHA, American Nurses Association and American Medical Association today urged the president to declare the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak a disaster or emergency under the Stafford Act or the National Emergencies Act. 

AHA has released a replay of its March 12 webinar on using Z codes to document social determinants of health, a valuable but underused tool for hospitals to improve the health and well-being of their patients and communities.

A new report from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality consolidates the latest evidence on 47 patient safety practices to help hospitals, primary care practices, long-term care facilities and other providers target and focus their patient safety efforts.

Overall cancer death rates continue to decline for U.S. men, women and children, according to the latest Annual Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer.

The United States Pharmacopeia Appeals Panel remanded the revised USP General Chapter standards for nonsterile compounding and for sterile compounding to an expert committee “for further engagement on the issues raised concerning the beyond-use date provisions.”

AHA President and CEO Rick Pollack and hospital and health system leaders met with top Administration officials at the White House to discuss the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the Internal Revenue Service have released a number of new information resources related to COVID-19.