News

Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra last week declared a public health emergency for Florida in response to Hurricane Idalia and waived or modified certain Medicare, Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program requirements to ensure sufficient health care items and services are available.

AHA released an infographic highlighting the latest statistics on U.S. behavioral health hospitals and their services.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention alerted clinicians, laboratories and public health departments to recent fatal infections from Vibrio vulnificus bacteria through open-wound contact with warm coastal waters or raw or undercooked shellfish. The alert includes guidance for managing these infections.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services recently awarded 57 organizations $98.6 million in navigator grants to help consumers enroll in health coverage in the 29 states participating in the federal health insurance marketplace in plan year 2024

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently awarded $279 million to help state and local health departments respond to the drug overdose crisis through treatment and surveillance.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Friday released a proposed rule that would impose minimum staffing requirements for long-term care facilities, including skilled nursing facilities, that participate in Medicare and Medicaid.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will select up to eight states to participate in a new voluntary all-payer model that aims to curb health care cost growth, improve population health, and advance health equity by reducing disparities in health outcomes.

AHA urged the Federal Trade Commission to withdraw its proposed changes to the premerger notification rules, form and instructions under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act, except to the extent they are required to implement the Merger Filing Fee Modernization Act of 2022.

The Federal Bureau of Investigations, amid one of the largest-ever U.S.-led enforcement actions against a botnet, Aug. 29 announced the successful takedown of QakBot, the botnet infrastructure used by cybercriminals for ransomware, financial fraud and other criminal activity.

The Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General Aug. 28 released a strategic plan to align its audits, evaluations, investigations and enforcement of managed care plans in Medicare Advantage and Medicaid.

In response to an Aug. 24 ruling in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas setting aside certain regulations implementing the No Surprises Act’s independent dispute resolution process, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services reiterated its earlier suspension of the IDR process, including the ability to initiate new disputes.   

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services sent to each state letters regarding compliance with federal requirements related to automatic eligibility renewals, known as “ex parte” renewals, under Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program.

July saw the continued worsening of hospitals’ finances, according to a new Kaufman Hall report.

A three-judge panel in federal court last week partially revived a class action lawsuit against UnitedHealth Group subsidiary United Behavioral Health, reversing an earlier decision from 2020.

AHA Aug. 28 supported the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ proposal to change how certain forms of noncomprehensive coverage can be marketed and sold.

AHA responded to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ calendar year 2024 proposed rule for the home health prospective payment system by voicing its extreme concern with the overall net negative update.

In an Aug. 28 letter to House sponsors, the AHA voiced support for the GOLD Card Act of 2023 (H.R. 4968) that would exempt qualifying providers from prior authorization requirements under Medicare Advantage plans.

The Department of Health and Human Services announced the first list of Medicare Part D drugs subject to price negotiations, a tenet of the Inflation Reduction Act designed to reduce health care costs.

The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas for a third time ruled to set aside certain regulations implementing the No Surprises Act.

Deanna Martin, AHA’s vice president for professional membership groups, highlights the valuable insights to be gained by marketing, communications and business development professionals who take part in the upcoming Society for Health Care Strategy & Market Development’s annual Connections Conference Sept. 10-12 in Chicago.