News

Hospital leaders and clinicians will join experts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, AHA and American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Jan. 26 to discuss how health care professionals can work with their patients and communities to build trust in the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines for pregnant people.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will host a conference call for health care providers Jan. 26 at 1 p.m. ET on the balance billing provisions of the No Surprises Act.

The Food and Drug Administration expanded the approved uses for Vekury (remdesivir) to include non-hospitalized patients aged 12 and older who test positive for SARS-CoV-2, weigh at least 88 pounds and are at high risk of progressing to severe COVID-19.

For the past two years, our hospital and health system teams have shown compassion and courage as they’ve worked tirelessly to care for our communities during the greatest public health challenge of our lifetime. To all of those on the front lines, we express our sincere gratitude for your continued efforts, commitment and resiliency.

A study by University of Chicago researchers reported in Health Affairs reviewed more than 40,000 electronic health record entries over a nearly two-year period from one urban academic medical center and found providers were 2.5 times more likely to use negative patient descriptors in EHRs for Black patients than for white patients.

The Health Resources and Services Administration awarded 45 grants totaling $103 million from the American Rescue Plan Act to help health care providers and health professions schools implement evidence-based training and strategies to promote mental health, wellness and resilience in the health care workforce. 

According to data from 25 state and local health departments, adults who were unvaccinated against COVID-19 as the omicron variant emerged in December had nearly three times higher risk of infection than adults fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and five times higher risk than adults who had received a booster, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported.

The Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology seeks comments through March 25 to inform potential future rulemaking on how the ONC Health IT Certification Program could incorporate standards, implementation specifications and certification criteria to reduce the burden of prior authorization.

The AHA voiced support for the Opioid Treatment Access Act (H.R. 6279), bipartisan legislation that would take steps to facilitate patients’ access to methadone treatment for opioid use disorder.

Collaborating on key issues affecting hospitals and the health care system. Creating solutions to some of the biggest health care challenges impacting our country. Connecting with colleagues from across the country to share knowledge, ideas and support as we work to advance health in America.