News

The AHA and 17 other organizations representing health care providers, insurers, suppliers and others urged Congress to take certain immediate actions to strengthen health care capacity and ensure a stable supply of critical resources to address the novel coronavirus. 

The AHA, American Medical Association and American Nurses Association urged congressional leaders to provide $100 billion to front line health care personnel and providers and “direct the federal agencies to begin to infuse funds immediately so that they can afford to take the necessary steps to fight” the novel coronavirus outbreak (COVID-19).

The Senate passed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (H.R. 6201). The House of Representatives March 16 passed by unanimous consent a revised version of the bill that made technical corrections to the legislation that the House originally approved March 14.

President Trump today invoked the Defense Production Act to expand production of ventilators, masks and other emergency medical supplies.

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.