News

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued an emergency temporary standard for occupational exposure to COVID-19 that requires certain health care employers to help protect their workers in settings where suspected or confirmed COVID-19 patients are treated.

The Health Resources and Services Administration awarded 56 organizations $22 million in grants to train graduate-level students of social work, psychology, and other behavioral and mental health disciplines to work with youth and other vulnerable populations at risk for behavioral health disorders through the Behavioral Health Workforce and Education Training Program for Professionals.

Johnson & Johnson said the Food and Drug Administration agreed to extend the expiration date for its COVID-19 vaccine by six weeks.

After concerns raised by the AHA and other health groups, UnitedHealthcare delayed plans to deny coverage for emergency department claims the insurer deems non-emergent. The policy was to take effect July 1.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Grand Rapids, Mich-based Spectrum Health used the full scope of its resources to enable easy vaccine access, keep its communities informed, maintain and expand access in ZIP codes bearing the brunt of infections, and fuel innovation.

The National Urban League, a strategic partner of AHA, June 15-16 is hosting its annual Legislative Policy Conference as a free virtual event.

Health care providers participating in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s COVID-19 Vaccination Program must administer the vaccines at no cost to recipients, the Department of Health and Human Services reminded providers and health plans in a letter.

The departments of Health and Human Services and Defense will purchase 1.7 million treatment courses of an investigational antiviral drug for $1.2 billion if the Food and Drug Administration approves or authorizes the therapy, the Biden administration announced.

Medicare will pay about $75 per dose to administer COVID-19 vaccines in a Medicare beneficiary’s home, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced.

AHA urged UnitedHealthcare to reverse its decision to retroactively deny coverage effective July 1 for emergency department claims the insurer deems non-emergent.

Compared with the pre-vaccination period of Nov. 29 to Dec. 12, 2020, COVID-19 incidence during April 18 to May 1, 2021, was 69% lower among adults overall, and 79%, 71% and 66% lower among persons aged 65 and over, 50-64 and 18-49, respectively, according to a report released by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

Friday, June 11, marks the last day to apply for the Environmental Services Department of the Year.

COVID Tech Connect will donate to hospitals and other care facilities up to 15 Samsung Galaxy Tab A devices each to help COVID-19 patients connect with their loved ones.

Retail prices for 260 widely used brand-name prescription drugs last year increased by an average 2.9%, more than twice the general rate of inflation, according to a report released by AARP’s Public Policy Institute.

The Department of Health and Human Services will establish a public-private consortium to increase U.S. production of essential medicines and active pharmaceutical ingredients, the White House announced.

The AHA will connect hospitals and health systems with businesses interested in vaccinating their employees as part of an effort to increase COVID-19 vaccinations across the country, the White House announced.

Hospitals are cornerstones of our communities. They provide a broad spectrum of acute and ambulatory care services and serve as economic anchors in many cities and towns.

The Food and Drug Administration approved Biogen’s Aduhelm to treat Alzheimer’s disease, the first new treatment approved for the disease since 2003.

The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute seeks input on a proposed initiative for health systems and provider-aligned health plans that would provide funding to implement and evaluate strategies to improve patient care and outcomes based on evidence from PCORI-funded research.

Hospitals will no longer need to report influenza data and inventory and usage data for bamlanivimab administered alone as part of their daily data reporting related to COVID-19 effective June 10, when reporting data for those fields will become optional, the Department of Health and Human Services announced.