News

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted life in ways we never expected. For patients across the country, the cancellation or postponement of non-emergent surgeries, clinic visits and procedures delayed important medical care and financially devastated many hospitals and health systems, even threatening the ability of many to keep their doors open.

Beginning July 1, certain hospital outpatient department services require prior authorization for payment under the Medicare hospital outpatient prospective payment system final rule for calendar year 2020.

Loyola Medicine has maintained a strong partnership with its neighboring communities in Chicago’s near western suburbs. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, this health system-community partnership helped residents in these economically-challenged communities in many ways, including providing nutritious food on a more regular basis.

The National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities is accepting applications through Dec. 15 for funding to expand and improve digital health interventions to identify, treat and provide services for health conditions secondary to the COVID-19 pandemic in health disparity populations and those with medical or social vulnerabilities.

The Food and Drug Administration authorized the first COVID-19 diagnostic test with next generation sequencing, which can generate information about the genomic sequence of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus.

While the COVID-19 pandemic placed a pause on routine medical visits and non-emergency procedures, people are still giving birth and in need of support from hospitals and health systems.

The Food and Drug Administration approved a new injection to assist in tracheal intubation and provide muscle relaxation during surgeries or mechanical ventilation.

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.

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.

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.