Headline

The latest stories from AHA Today.

The House voted 220-205 today to pass legislation to hold employer-based health plans more accountable for improper denials of mental health and substance use benefits.
The Senate today voted 72-25 to pass and send to the House a continuing resolution that would extend current federal funding levels for health care and other programs through Dec. 16.
CMS approved Medicaid demonstrations for Oregon and Massachusetts that will test innovative approaches to help eligible enrollees maintain coverage and access social services, including evidenced-based nutritional assistance and clinically-tailored housing supports. 
In a study of 151 tax-exempt hospitals reported yesterday in JAMA Network Open, 84% updated their charity care policies between 2019 and 2021.
At a White House conference today on hunger, nutrition and health, the Biden Administration announced $8 billion in public- and private-sector commitments to help end hunger and reduce diet-related disease for Americans by 2030.
AHA today released Suicide Prevention: Evidence-Informed Interventions for the Health Care Workforce, a resource to support hospitals’ and health systems’ efforts to prevent suicide in the health care workforce.  The report describes key drivers of suicide in the health care workforce and…
Commenting on a proposed rule that would reinstate certain regulatory protections against discrimination in health care programs and activities under Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act that the prior Administration removed in 2020, AHA said hospitals and health systems remain committed to…
The United States District Court for the District of Columbia ruled in favor of the AHA, holding that HHS must immediately halt the departments’ unlawful cuts to outpatient reimbursement rates for the remainder of 2022 for certain hospitals that participate in the 340B Drug Pricing Program. 
The AHA and Federation of American Hospitals urged Congress to oppose H.R.1330/S.4130 and any other legislation that would repeal or weaken current law limiting self-referral to physician-owned hospitals.
Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra yesterday declared a public health emergency for Florida as Hurricane Ian approaches, and waived or modified certain Medicare, Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program requirements to ensure sufficient health care items and services are…