News

A recent JAMA-published study on U.S. hospitals’ financial performance during the COVID-19 public health emergency suffers from several methodological setbacks that undermine its credibility, writes Aaron Wesolowski, AHA’s vice president of policy, research, analytics and strategy.

AHA July 21 released its quarterly Health Care Plan Accountability Update, featuring the latest news on AHA efforts to hold commercial health insurers accountable for policies that can delay care for patients, burden health care providers and add unnecessary costs to the health care system.

The Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for Civil Rights and Federal Trade Commission yesterday sent a letter to about 130 hospital systems and telehealth providers reminding them to comply with HIPAA Privacy, Security and Breach Notification Rules, the FTC Act and FTC Health Breach Notification Rule when using technologies that can track a user’s online activities, such as Meta/Facebook Pixel and Google Analytics.

Effective Aug. 27, the Joint Commission will eliminate or consolidate over 200 more accreditation standards in its hospital and other accreditation programs as part of an initiative to retire standards that go beyond the Medicare conditions of participation and don’t add value.

In recent years, the dedication to innovation has been fueled in part by advancements in technology. Patients right now — and in the future — can expect more care delivery that is driven by 3D modeling; predictive analytics; advanced robotics for surgeries and treatments; and personalized therapies based on genomics.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services approved Medicaid state plan amendments for California and Kentucky to provide 24/7 community-based mobile crisis intervention services to eligible individuals experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis, as authorized by the American Rescue Plan Act.

Stay ahead of the game with AVIA's health care AI research collaborative. Learn how to adopt AI algorithms responsibly and ethically in your hospital or health system.

Microsoft announced plans to offer government and commercial customers free access to additional cloud security logs beginning in September, prompting applause from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.

Reps. Derek Kilmer, D-Wash., and Ronny Jackson, R-Texas, introduced bipartisan legislation that would make permanent a U.S. Department of Agriculture program that provides rural hospitals with technical assistance to prevent closures, strengthen essential health care services, and improve financial and operational performance.

The House Energy and Commerce Committee passed 15 health-related bills approved by its health subcommittee last week, including bills that would reauthorize the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act, Children’s Hospitals Graduate Medical Education Program, and key programs within the Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment for Patients and Communities (SUPPORT) Act.  

The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee voted 17-3 to pass as amended the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness and Response Act (S. 2333), which would reauthorize the Hospital Preparedness Program at the current funding level of $385 million through fiscal year 2029.

Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions Committee Chairman Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., July 19 introduced legislation that would use site-neutral payments to fund community health centers and health care workforce initiatives.

Brian Juncker, managing partner of Strategic Talent Solutions, and Frank Venuto, chief human capital officer at Nebraska Medicine, join this discussion around succession planning and growing the next generation of health care leaders

The Federal Trade Commission and Department of Justice July 19 released for comment through Sept. 18 updated guidance () describing how the agencies’ review mergers and acquisitions to determine compliance with federal antitrust laws.

Main Line Health in Bryn Mawr, Pa., yesterday received the 2023 AHA Quest for Quality Prize for its systemwide approach to quality, safety and equity. Atlantic Health System in Morristown, N.J., and University of Chicago Medicine also received Citations of Merit.

During the July 17 Leadership Summit afternoon plenary session, RealClearPolitics Associate Editor and Columnist A.B. Stoddard moderated a panel with AHA leaders, including Stacey Hughes, executive vice president of government relations and public policy; Ashley Thompson, senior vice president of public policy analysis and development; and Chad Golder, senior vice president and deputy general counsel.

Futurist Ian Morrison moderated a plenary discussion on the future of health care transformation with Janice Nevin, M.D., president and CEO of ChristianaCare in Wilmington, Del.; Terika Richardson, chief operating officer of Nashville-based Ardent Health Services; and Warner Thomas, president and CEO of Sutter Health in Sacramento, Calif.

AHA Chair-elect Joanne Conroy, M.D., CEO and president of Dartmouth Health in Lebanon, N.H., opened the afternoon plenary session during Day 2 of the Summit, discussing how the unknowns of COVID-19 forced hospitals and health systems to quickly improvise and innovate.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has posted training slides that partners can use to educate communities about the need for Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program enrollees to renew their coverage and how to find other coverage if they are no longer eligible.

AHA today voiced support for the Protecting Rural Telehealth Access Act (S.1636/H.R. 3440), legislation that would make permanent several telehealth flexibilities provided during the public health emergency.