News

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, Department of Health and Human Services, and Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center May 10 released a joint cybersecurity advisory to provide information on Black Basta, a ransomware variant whose actors have encrypted and stolen data from at least 12 out of 16 critical infrastructure sectors, including the health care and public health sector.

Barbara Sowada, president of the Board of Trustees at Memorial Hospital, discusses the role board members can play in helping rural hospitals and health systems navigate today’s pressing problems, and how the AHA’s resources and educational materials can provide valuable assistance.

The Department of Justice May 9 announced the formation of a task force focusing on competition concerns in health care.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services May 9 announced an extension of unwinding flexibilities to support state efforts to protect the continuity of coverage in Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program.

The AHA’s new Costs of Caring report highlights how hospitals and health systems continue to experience significant financial pressures that challenge their ability to provide 24/7 care for patients and communities.

The Food and Drug Administration May 9 released final guidance clarifying the definition of “remanufacturing” for reusable medical devic

AHA wrapped up its 2024 Accelerating Health Equity Conference May 9 with a detailed advocacy update of the latest from Washington, D.C.

The Department of Justice May 7 announced more than two dozen criminal charges against Dimitry Yuryevich Khoroshev, 31, of Voronezh, Russia, for his alleged role as the creator, developer and administrator of the LockBit ransomware group.

The convening of 1,000 leaders from hospitals, health systems, and community and public health organizations continued for a full-day schedule at the AHA Accelerating Health Equity Conference in Kansas City, Mo. Day 2 featured breakout sessions, table conversations, networking opportunities and community immersion experiences.

Two experts from AdventHealth discuss how its “Be a Mindleader” campaign is leading the way to improving adolescent mental health by helping parents and kids open the door to life-changing conversations about mental health.

AHA submitted a statement May 8 to the House Ways and Means Committee for a markup session on proposed legislation impacting telehealth access for patients and rural access to care.

In a statement submitted May 8 for a Senate Budget Committee hearing on reducing administrative burden in health care, AHA urged Congress to streamline the prior authorization process in Medicare Advantage.

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.

The AHA and other national hospital groups May 8 sent a letter to UnitedHealth Group, urging the organization to formally accept responsibility for issuing breach notifications on behalf of providers or customers following cyberattacks if protected health information or personally identifiable information is stolen.

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.