News

The Department of Health and Human Services today reported a 45% increase in call volume and improved answer rates and wait times for the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline this August compared to a year ago. The 10-digit National Suicide Prevention Lifeline in July transitioned to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, meaning individuals experiencing a suicide, mental health or substance use crisis can simply call, chat or text 988 to connect with a trained crisis counselor.

Clinical data from patients treated under an investigational protocol for TPOXX (tecovirimat) support continuing to make the smallpox antiviral drug available to treat U.S. patients with monkeypox during the current outbreak, according to a report released today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC protocol includes patient treatment and adverse event reporting forms to monitor safety and ensure intended clinical use.

The Food and Drug Administration yesterday alerted health care providers and the public to reports of squamous cell carcinoma in scar tissue around breast implants, as well as lymphomas different than those previously associated with breast implants. The agency recommends that health care providers continue to report cancers around breast implants to help it identify and better understand this emerging issue.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention today alerted health care providers to an increase in pediatric hospitalizations for severe respiratory illness in patients who tested positive for rhinovirus and/or enterovirus, including enterovirus D68 (EV-D68). EV-D68 has been associated with acute flaccid myelitis, a rare but serious neurologic complication involving limb weakness.

This week’s observance of Labor Day reminds us of the many contributions workers have made to America’s strength, prosperity and well-being.

The AHA has elected Marc L. Boom, M.D., president and CEO of Houston Methodist, to a three-year term on its Board of Trustees beginning Jan. 1. Dr. Boom will fill an interim vacancy on the board. He currently serves on the AHA Health Systems Committee and was an AHA Regional Policy Board 7 delegate from 2010-2012 and 2013-2015.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services today approved state plan amendments allowing Indiana and West Virginia to extend postpartum coverage from 60 days to 12 months after pregnancy for Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program enrollees under the American Rescue Plan Act. They join 21 other states and Washington, D.C., in opting to extend the coverage under either the ARPA state plan option or section 1115 demonstration authority.

The Food and Drug Administration yesterday issued the first emergency use authorization for a monkeypox diagnostic test, whic

The Department of Homeland Security today released a final rule excluding noncash benefits, such as the Children’s Health Insurance Program and most Medicaid benefits, when making a public charge inadmissibility determination for noncitizens requesting admission to the United States or permanent residency. AHA voiced support for the proposed rule in April, saying its clarifications would address confusion and uncertainty for legal immigrants and their families wrought by earlier policies.

The Biden Administration will make over 170 million doses of the bivalent COVID-19 vaccine booster available to Americans for free at pharmacies, doctor’s offices, health centers, and state and local health departments, the White House announced today.

Twenty-six organizations, including the AHA, today urged congressional leaders to enact the Saving Access to Laboratory Services Act (H.R.8188, S.4499), bipartisan legislation that would update Medicare’s payment system for clinical diagnostic lab services and reporting requirements for labs.

A new report from the AHA highlights the variety of causes that resulted in 136 rural hospital closures from 2010 to 2021, and a record 19 closures in 2020 alone. These include many longstanding pressures, such as low reimbursement, staffing shortages, low patient volume and regulatory barriers, as well as the continued financial challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Philips Respironics has recalled more than 17 million masks used with Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure and Continuous Positive Airway Pressure machines because the masks contain magnets that could cause serious injury to people with implanted metallic medical devices or other objects, the Food and Drug Administration announced yesterday. Philips has reported 14 serious injuries related to using the masks, including pacemaker failure, arrhythmia, seizures and irregular blood pressure. BPAP and CPAP machines are used by people with obstructive sleep apnea, respiratory insufficiency or respiratory failure — health conditions that cause breathing pauses during sleep.

The Department of Health and Human Services yesterday awarded AmerisourceBergen a $19.8 million contract to speed delivery of monkeypox vaccine and treatments from the Strategic National Stockpile to U.S. jurisdictions. The SNS to date has shipped over 800,000 vials of JYNNEOS vaccine and 37,000 treatment courses of TPOXX, an investigational antiviral treatment for monkeypox.

The Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services last week issued a proposed rule designed to remove Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program enrollment barriers and retain coverage for individuals when the COVID-19 public health emergency and related continuous eligibility requirements eventually end. CMS will accept comments on the proposed rule through Nov. 7.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services seeks comments through Nov. 4 on the challenges individuals face accessing health care services through CMS programs; impact of CMS policies and requirements on provider well-being and retention; strategies to address health inequities and social determinants of health; and recommendations to improve or make permanent waivers and flexibilities provided in response to the COVID-19 public health emergency to further reduce burden and address health disparities.

Commenting yesterday on the physician fee schedule proposed rule for calendar year 2023, AHA said it appreciates the proposals to support care delivery and patient outcomes, particularly those to improve Medicare Shared Savings Program stability and flexibility.

The AHA today released strategies for building your workforce team, the final section in its three-part guide to strengthening the health care workforce. Today’s section focuses on recruitment and retention, diversity and inclusion, and creative staffing models. Sections 1 and 2 focus on supporting the team; and using data and technology to support the workforce.

Accountable care organizations in the Medicare Shared Savings Program generated over $1.6 billion in savings to Medicare in 2021, CMS announced.

Hospitals and health systems added 14,700 jobs in August, while U.S. jobs overall increased by 315,000, according to data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.