News

AHA President and CEO Rick Pollack wrote in a blog that hospitals and health systems face a triple-hit from COVID-19: skyrocketing costs of preparing for a patient surge; a forced shutdown of regular operations for non-emergent procedures; and treating a growing number of uninsured patients.

About 60% of participants in a study of young adults infected with COVID-19 on a U.S. aircraft carrier had reactive antibodies to the virus, 59% of whom also had neutralizing antibodies at the time of specimen collection, according to a report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Hospitals and other organizations have responded to COVID-19 by leveraging technology to expand outreach to patients and communities.

Johnson & Johnson announced it accelerated the initiation of its first human trials of its coronavirus vaccine candidate, with the trial slated to begin in the second half of July.

The National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities opened applications for supplemental funding to evaluate interventions to reduce COVID-19’s impact on populations that experience health disparities or other populations vulnerable to COVID-19 infection, hospitalization, or mortality.

The National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities opened applications for supplemental funding to evaluate interventions to reduce COVID-19’s impact on populations that experience health disparities or other populations vulnerable to COVID-19 infection, hospitalization, or mortality.

The White House Supply Chain Task Force projects the nation will have enough N95 masks to meet pandemic demand for July through October, according to a report released to the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee for a hearing on federal efforts to procure and distribute supplies to fight the pandemic.

AHA submitted comment to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on the agency’s proposed skilled nursing facility prospective payment system for fiscal year 2021, urging CMS to support additional funds to offset the cost of critically important COVID-19 testing.

The Internal Revenue Service released proposed regulations addressing the treatment of direct primary care arrangements, health care sharing ministry memberships and certain government-sponsored health care programs under section 213 of the Internal Revenue Code.

Each June “What Matters to You?” Day aims to encourage meaningful conversations between people who provide and receive health and social care.

The Food and Drug Administration does not intend to object to a manufacturer or authorized distributor delivering prescription drug samples directly to licensed practitioners or their patients at their homes during the COVID-19 emergency when requested by the practitioner in accordance with requirements, according to guidance released.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released a guide for patients considering in-person, non-emergency treatment as the country continues to reopen and COVID-19 cases decline.

The Department of Health and Human Services announced in an email that it is planning an additional distribution of funds to hospitals that have been particularly affected by the increased burden of caring for those with COVID-19.

The Department of Health and Human Services announced that it will distribute $10 billion from the Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund to hospitals that serve a disproportionate number of Medicaid patients or provide large amounts of uncompensated care. 

The Internal Revenue Service issued a proposed rule implementing a provision of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 that imposed a 21% excise tax on certain executive compensation paid by tax-exempt organizations.

FDA released new guidance that expands for the duration of the COVID-19 emergency the availability and capability of non-invasive monitoring devices.

CMS released guidance for non-federal governmental plans implementing the Families First Coronavirus Response Act requirement to cover COVID-19 diagnostic testing and certain related items and services without cost-sharing, prior authorization or other medical management restrictions during the public health emergency.

The Food and Drug Administration reissued emergency use authorizations that revise policy on the types of respirators that can be decontaminated for reuse.

Any way you cut it, this has been a very tough few weeks in our country. We have witnessed a colorful tapestry of Americans voicing loud opposition to the systemic injustices and institutional racism. We’re also seeing centuries’ worth of wounds being opened and spilling into our streets — and tragically into our emergency departments — here in the greater Kansas City metro and in cities of every size coast-to-coast.

The Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response shared resources for protecting community hospitals and providing care during civil unrest.