News

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will host a June 8 call for clinicians on an outbreak of fungal meningitis in patients who received procedures under epidural anesthesia at clinics in Matamoros, Mexico. To date, over 200 U.S. citizens have been exposed to these procedures between Jan. 1 and May 13, when the clinics closed, with three deaths reported.

As urged by the AHA and its professional membership group the Association for Health Care Resource & Materials Management, the Food and Drug Administration yesterday released guidance to help hospitals and other health care providers conserve pneumatic tourniquet cuffs after a recent recall led to local supply shortages.

AHA yesterday urged the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to adjust its proposed fiscal year 2024 market basket update for inpatient psychiatric facilities to account for underpayments in FY 2022 relative to inflation.

A new AHA infographic shows how legislation that would impose billions of dollars in additional site-neutral payment reductions to services provided in off-campus hospital outpatient departments (HOPDs) fails to account for the fundamental differences between HOPDs and other ambulatory care sites, would exacerbate Medicare’s chronic failure to cover the cost of care and jeopardize beneficiary access to essential care and services.

More than 200 hospital and health system leaders on June 6 participated in an AHA Advocacy Day briefing to get the latest developments from Capitol Hill. AHA leaders briefed those in attendance on a number of issues, including site-neutral payment policies, the 340B Drug Pricing Program, consolidation, physician-owned hospitals and price transparency.

A University of Michigan expert discusses how environmental sustainability efforts can benefit hospitals and health systems and supplement their other ongoing initiatives like engaging the workforce.

Hospitals and health systems committed to leadership and innovation in improving quality and advancing health are invited to apply for the 2024 AHA Quest for Quality Prize

Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra June 2 declared a public health emergency in the territory of Guam due to Typhoon Mawar, and waived or modified certain Medicare, Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program requirements to ensure sufficient health care items and services are available.

In comments submitted June 5, AHA said it appreciates that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services proposed a net positive update for the skilled nursing facility prospective payment system for fiscal year 2024, but remains concerned that the agency’s market basket approach lags in recognizing inflationary trends and may not fully capture the rising costs of care

In comments submitted June 5, AHA said it appreciates that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has not proposed any major payment or coverage changes to the Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility Prospective Payment System for fiscal year 2024, but urged the agency to consider changing its historical approach to the annual payment update to reflect the increased costs that hospitals are facing due to inflation and labor shortages.

On Friday, AHA led the seventh annual #HAVhope Friday, part of its Hospital Against Violence initiative, to focus national attention on ending all forms of violence in our workplaces and communities.

The FDA on June 2 told AHA that is has worked with Qilu Pharmaceuticals and Apotex Corp. to temporarily import cisplatin, a drug used in chemotherapy, after a national shortage.

The application window for AHA’s 2024 Circle of Life Awards is now open. The award recognizes programs and organizations that provide innovative palliative or end-of-life care. The deadline to apply is July 10.

On #HAVhope Day, hear some of the ways health care leaders are tackling the problem of workplace aggression and the potential solutions.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is following up on a previous alert of an outbreak of suspected fungal meningitis in Texas, which is now significantly expanded to multiple states.

Senate lawmakers last night voted 63-36 to pass the bipartisan Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 (H.R. 3746), a deal to suspend the nation’s debt limit for nearly two years and make other policy changes.

Hospitals and health systems are beacons of healing, comfort, care and hope.

New research from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that by early fall 2022, an overwhelming percentage of American adults had antibodies to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

The House May 30 voted 314-117 to pass the bipartisan Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 (H.R. 3746), a deal to suspend the debt limit for nearly two years and make other policy changes. The Senate has begun consideration of the bill; a vote is possible by Friday, June 2. 

Following discussions between the American Hospital Association and United Healthcare, the insurer announced May 31 a refocused gastroenterology policy that relies on additional provider education rather than prior authorizations to address the insurer’s concerns about possible overutilization.