News

Over 30 members of the House of Representatives Nov. 3 urged the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to monitor and evaluate how Medicare Advantage plans use artificial intelligence and algorithms to guide their coverage decisions, and ensure these tools comply with Medicare rules and do not create barriers to care.

Nearly 15 years ago, a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine estimated that only 1.5% of acute care general medical and surgical hospitals had a comprehensive electronic health records system.

Leaders from Northwestern Medical Center in Vermont share how their CEO transition plan helped accelerate their organization’s success and ensure a smooth changeover.

The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology has updated its Common Agreement for Nationwide Health Information Interoperability for health information networks that qualify to exchange electronic health information through the voluntary Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement.

The Department of Health and Human Services recently released an advisory to help health care organizations protect their systems and networks from 8Base, a ransomware and data extortion gang targeting small- and medium-sized organizations in health care and other sectors.

The Healthcare Workforce Coalition, whose founding members include the AHA, Nov. 3 applauded Sens. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., and Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., and Reps. Brad Schneider, D-Ill., and Don Bacon, R-Neb., for reintroducing the Healthcare Workforce Resilience Act, legislation that would recapture up to 40,000 unused employment visas — 25,000 for nurses and 15,000 for physicians.

Coverage is the gateway to access health services that can ensure healthier individuals, healthier families and healthier communities.

The AHA, joined by the Texas Hospital Association, Texas Health Resources, and United Regional Health Care System, Nov. 2 sued the federal government to bar enforcement of an unlawful, harmful and counterproductive rule that has upended hospitals’ and health systems’ ability to share health care information with the communities they serve, analyze their own websites to enhance accessibility, and improve public health. 

CMS releases CY 2024 physician fee schedule final rule with a conversion factor cut of 3.4%. Read on to understand the impact on healthcare providers.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Nov. 2 issued a final rule that increases Medicare hospital outpatient prospective payment system rates by a net 3.1% in calendar year 2024 compared to 2023. This includes a 3.3% market basket update, offset by a 0.2% cut for productivity.

Following last year’s unanimous Supreme Court decision in favor of the AHA and others, the Department of Health and Human Services Nov. 2 issued a final rule outlining the agency’s remedy for the unlawful payment cuts to certain hospitals that participate in the 340B Drug Pricing Program.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Nov. 1 issued its calendar year 2024 final rule for the home health prospective payment system, which will increase home health payments by a net $140 million, or 0.8%, in calendar year 2024, relative to the year prior.

Martha Twaddle, M.D., medical director for palliative medicine and supportive care at Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital and chair of the 2023 Circle of Life Award committee, speaks with this year’s three honorees about what drives them to overcome barriers in palliative care and how to build trust and relationships during difficult times.

From Nov. 1 through Jan. 15, individuals and families can enroll in or change their health coverage options through the Health Insurance Marketplace.

The Department of Health and Human Services Office of Population Affairs Oct. 31 issued a call to action and toolkit to help policymakers, health care and human services professionals, and others support adolescent health and well-being.

U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, M.D., will travel to colleges throughout November to inspire people to incorporate moments of connection into their daily lives to help improve their health and well-being.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Oct. 31 launched a campaign to help hospital leaders assess and improve their policies and practices to support health care worker well-being.

The Food and Drug Administration the week of Oct. 23 cleared for marketing the first over-the-counter test to detect fentanyl in urine.

President Biden Oct. 30 directed federal agencies to take certain actions to protect Americans from the potential risks of artificial intelligence systems while promoting innovation and competition.

The Department of Health and Human Services Oct. 27 urged Merck and Pfizer to work with private insurers to maintain access to their COVID-19 oral antiviral medications as they transition from federal to commercial distribution, beginning Nov. 1.