News

In response to recent court decisions that set aside certain regulations implementing the No Surprises Act’s Independent Dispute Resolution process, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Nov. 28 released FAQs explaining how certified IDR entities may determine whether a dispute is appropriately batched and clarifying certain other provisions and its policy for extending existing IDR deadlines once the federal IDR portal reopens to all batched disputes and single disputes involving air ambulance services.

Nearly 4.6 million people selected a 2024 health plan through the federally facilitated and state-based marketplaces Nov. 1-18, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services reported last week.

President Biden will issue a determination that gives the Department of Health and Human Services broader authority to invest in domestic manufacturing of essential medicines and medical countermeasures under Title III of the Defense Production Act, the White House announced Nov. 27 as it convened the first meeting of the White House Council on Supply Chain Resilience.

The risk of not-for-profit hospitals and health systems violating bond covenants has eased for 2024, but remains heightened, according to a report from Moody's Investors Service.

AHA Nov. 27 applauded the Assistance for Rural Community Hospitals Act (H.R. 6430), legislation that would extend for five additional years the Medicare-dependent Hospital program and enhanced low-volume Medicare adjustment.

The AHA recently released the 2024 Health Care Workforce Scan, which identifies and shares strategies and resources that support hospital and health system teams.

In the latest episode in AHA’s three-part series on maternal health, Tiffany Moore Simas, M.D., chair of obstetrics and gynecology at UMass Memorial, discusses the concerning prevalence of perinatal depression, and the options available to provide moms with a lifeline.

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center and international partners are alerting health care and other critical infrastructure organizations of the threat of LockBit 3.0 ransomware, labeled "Citrix Bleed," which allows cyberthreat actors to bypass password requirements and multifactor authentication measures.

AHA Nov. 20 filed a friend-of-the-court brief in support of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and others claiming the National Labor Relations Board’s new rule for determining joint-employer status under the National Labor Relations Act violates the Administrative Procedure Act.

Four clinicians from Henry Ford Health System discuss how its collaborative care program, that for the first time integrated primary care with behavioral health, has helped meet the need of patients.

The Food and Drug Administration on Nov. 16 announced a new report from government contractor MITRE, Next Steps Toward Managing Legacy Medical Device Cybersecurity Risks.

The AHA Nov. 20 released its Health Care Plan Accountability Update, covering the latest developments in Medicare Advantage, legislation and regulation of private health insurers, as well as webinars and other resources from the last quarter.

Certain Medicare Advantage organizations have issued policies for the coming year that AHA believes do not fully adhere to requirements in the MA final rule for calendar year 2024, the association alerted the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Nov. 20.

This week, as many of us gather with family and friends to celebrate Thanksgiving, let’s give thanks for the incredible dedication, compassion and expertise of the people working at hospitals and health systems.

Fisher-Titus Medical Center in Norwalk, Ohio, addressed its nursing workforce gap by recruiting international nurses and working to create a welcoming and supportive environment where nurses choose to remain for many years to come.

Laura Appel, executive vice president of the Michigan Health and Hospital Association, and Christina Campos, CEO at Guadalupe County Hospital, New Mexico, discuss what’s involved in converting to and meeting the eligibility requirements of a Rural Emergency Hospital, and what patients stand to gain from it.

States interested in participating in Cohort 1 or 2 of the States Advancing All-Payer Health Equity Approaches and Development Model may apply until 3 p.m. on March 18 and are encouraged to submit a letter of intent by Feb. 5, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced Nov. 16.

Payment denials by Medicare Advantage plans jumped 56% for the median health system between January 2022 and June 2023, contributing to a 28% decline in median cash reserves, according to the latest analysis of data from over 1,300 hospitals and health systems by Syntellis Performance Solutions and the AHA.

From all of us at the American Hospital Association, best wishes for a happy, healthy and safe Thanksgiving.

As the nation celebrates #NationalRuralHealthDay, AHA Chair-elect Joanne Conroy, M.D., president and CEO of Dartmouth Health, discusses the challenges confronting rural hospitals and health systems in the U.S., and solutions for providing quality and cost-efficient care for the communities that need it most.