News

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services May 8 released a proposed rule for the Increasing Organ Transplant Access Model, a new payment model that would test whether performance-based incentives or penalties for participating transplant hospitals would increase access to kidney transplants for patients with end-stage renal disease, while preserving or enhancing quality of care, improving equitable access to kidney transplant care, and reducing Medicare expenditures.

More than 1,000 people gathered May 7 for the AHA Accelerating Health Equity Conference in Kansas City, Mo. During this afternoon’s opening session, Joanne M.

A new AHA Trustee Services resource, Building a Governing Board Strategy on Diversity and Health Equity, includes a series of case studies interviewing nine executives and board leaders, highlighting their hospital or health system’s strong commitment to diversity and health equity and underlining their integration into the fabric of their organization’s culture and governance strategy.

In a letter submitted May 7 to a bipartisan group of senators, AHA urged Congress to extend the Affordable Connectivity Program, which provides benefits toward high-speed internet, allowing patients access to services such as telehealth, hospital at home, patient portals and electronic patient records, virtual scheduling and remote patient monitoring. 

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services May 3 announced the opening of the comment period for the Inflation Reduction Act’s Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program, which will negotiate prices with drug makers for certain high-cost, sole-source drugs and apply them beginning in 2026. Comments are due July 2.

AHA May 6 responded to a request for information about the current state of artificial intelligence in health care from Rep. Ami Bera, M.D., D-Calif., urging that any regulation of the technology needs to be flexible to keep pace with innovation and allow caregivers to apply it for patient benefit.

The Medicare Hospital Insurance Trust Fund will have sufficient funds to pay full benefits until 2036, according to the latest annual report by the Medicare Board of Trustees.

More than 1,000 people will convene in Kansas City, Mo., beginning tomorrow to participate in the 

AHA’s Community Health Improvement network has added new resources to its Community Health Assessment Toolkit, including four new supplements focusing on how to involve specific populations in the CHA process.

AHA’s Institute for Diversity and Health Equity May 2 notified hospitals and health systems with an email reminder to complete the 2024 DEI Benchmark Survey, noting a deadline extension to May 15.

A report from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services examining disparities in care based on race, ethnicity and sex shows that in 2023, clinical care disparities were most common for Native American and African-American enrollees.

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency May 3 extended the comment period to July 3 for the April 4 proposed rule that would implement cyber incident and ransom payment reporting requirements under the Cyber Incident Reporting for Critical Infrastructure Act of 2022.

The Biden Administration April 30 released a memo announcing updated critical infrastructure protection requirements, which include the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency acting as the National Coordinator for Security and Resilience.

The FBI, State Department and National Security Agency issued a warning about attempts by North Korean state-sponsored cyberthreat actors to exploit improperly configured domain-based message authentication, reporting and conformance record policies to conceal social engineering attempts.

Hospital financials worsened in March, with declines in operating margins, volume, and revenue, according to a Kaufman Hall report.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services May 3 released a final rule that would allow DACA recipients, young undocumented immigrants authorized to work in the U.S., to purchase coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace, qualify for Marketplace subsidies based on income, and apply for the Basic Health Program in states that participate.

In just a few days, we’ll kick off important recognitions for National Hospital Week, May 12-18, and National Nurses Week, May 6-12.

The departments of Health and Human Services, Labor, and the Treasury May 1 released a new process for resubmitting disputes under the No Surprises Act independent dispute resolution process that were originally improperly batched or bundled.

The Department of Health and Human Services May 1 released a final rule bolstering discrimination protections for people with disabilities under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.

The AHA May 2 released a new report highlighting how hospitals and health systems continue to experience significant financial pressures that challenge their ability to provide 24/7 care for patients and communities.