News

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will automatically reprocess calendar year 2019 claims for hospital outpatient services provided in off-campus provider-based departments grandfathered under the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015.

House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard Neal, D-Mass., and Ranking Member Kevin Brady, R-Texas, yesterday announced a bipartisan agreement on legislation to protect patients from surprise medical bills.

The House of Representatives today voted 230-192 to approve the Lower Prescription Drug Costs Now Act.

The Senate today voted 72-18 to confirm Stephen Hahn, M.D., as Food and Drug Administration commissioner.

The Federal Communications Commission today proposed designating 988 as the national suicide prevention and mental health hotline number.

Hospitals and health systems investing in housing helps control costs while also ensuring that discharged patients have a safe and clean place to sleep each night, writes Jay Bhatt, D.O., AHA senior vice president and chief medical officer.

Nearly 3.9 million people selected a 2020 health plan through HealthCare.gov Nov. 1 to Dec. 7, including more than 1 million last week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services reported today.

Integrating physical and behavioral health care services can help hospitals and health systems overcome patient barriers to accessing behavioral health services while improving outcomes and value.

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation recently awarded its 2019 Culture of Health Prize to five communities for their commitment to improving health for all residents.

The House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee today held a hearing on proposals to achieve universal health care coverage.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will host a Dec. 11 webinar on the Primary Care Initiative’s professional and global direct contracting options.

An estimated 28%, or 4.7 million, of uninsured individuals eligible to buy health coverage at www.HealthCare.gov could find a 2020 bronze plan without paying a premium after subsidies.

Senate and House leaders announced they have reached an agreement on legislation to address surprise medical billing.

Senate Finance Committee leaders Friday released changes to the Prescription Drug Pricing Reduction Act that would eliminate impending Medicaid cuts to disproportionate share hospitals for two years.

The Department of Health and Human Services today announced a $226 million contract to expand the nation’s capacity to quickly produce vaccine for a flu pandemic.

Ever since America’s first hospital opened in 1736, hospitals and health systems have led the way in implementing medical breakthroughs that increase patient safety and improve care.

Sens. Todd Young, R-Ind., and Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., today introduced a Senate version (S. 2986) of the Social Determinants Accelerator Act, AHA-supported legislation that would provide planning grants and technical assistance to help states and communities address the social determinants of health for high-need Medicaid patients.

The AHA today responded to a House Ways and Means Committee request for comments on priority topics as its Rural and Underserved Communities Health Task Force works to identify bipartisan policy options to improve care delivery and health outcomes in these communities.

The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission late yesterday discussed draft 2021 payment recommendations for Congress.

A total of 2,291 patients have been hospitalized for vaping-associated lung injuries in the states, Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands, and 48 people have died from the condition.