News

In a 26-0 vote, the Senate Finance Committee Nov. 8 reported the Better Mental Health Care, Lower-Cost Drugs, and Extenders Act, bipartisan legislation that includes AHA-supported provisions to improve access to behavioral health care and delay Medicaid disproportionate share hospital reductions.

The latest poster in AHA’s People Matter, Words Matter series focuses on using compassionate language when discussing maternal mental health.

The FBI Nov. 7 recommended organizations take certain steps to prevent ransomware actors from exploiting vulnerabilities in third-party and system management tools, an emerging trend.

Over 3,700 babies were born with syphilis in 2022, 32% more than in 2021 and 10 times more than in 2012, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Nov. 7.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Nov. 6 proposed changes to the Medicare Advantage and prescription drug programs for contract year 2025 intended to improve access to behavioral health care; ensure that agents and brokers enroll individuals in the best plan for their needs and that MA plans offer appropriate supplemental benefits; streamline enrollment for individuals dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid; and annually review MA utilization management policies for health equity considerations.

AHA Nov. 7 reiterated its support for the Healthcare Workforce Resilience Act, bipartisan legislation reintroduced last week in the House and Senate that would recapture up to 40,000 unused employment visas — 25,000 for nurses and 15,000 for physicians.

AHA Nov. 6 released Expanding the Reach, strategies to help hospitals and health systems recruit, hire and support veterans, the latest section in AHA’s popular Strengthening the Health Care Workforce series. 

The more than 11,000 patients who received care during the first 16 months of the Acute Hospital Care at Home initiative had a low mortality rate and minimal complications related to escalations back to the brick-and-mortar hospital, according to a study reported Friday in JAMA Health Forum.

Children under age 12 should receive a 0.25 milliliter dose of the 2023-24 Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, not the full vial for that age group, the Food and Drug Administration reminded health care providers recently.

Over 30 members of the House of Representatives Nov. 3 urged the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to monitor and evaluate how Medicare Advantage plans use artificial intelligence and algorithms to guide their coverage decisions, and ensure these tools comply with Medicare rules and do not create barriers to care.