News

As American health care continues to transform, hospitals and health systems are leading the way forward, fueling innovation and delivering greater value to patients, AHA President and CEO Rick Pollack wrote today in an advertorial in the Wall Street Journal.

A federal judge yesterday approved CVS Health’s $69 billion acquisition of Aetna. U.S. District Court Judge Richard Leon, who asked to review the case.

Hospital mergers enhance quality for patients and reduce costs, according to a Charles River Associates study released today.

The Department of Health and Human Services today announced more than $1.8 billion in funding to states to combat the opioid crisis by expanding access to treatment and supporting near real-time data.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has awarded 34 organizations grants to help consumers shop for and enroll in health coverage as navigators in states with federally-facilitated health insurance exchanges.

ONC yesterday selected the Sequoia Project to maintain the Common Agreement component of the Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement.

The Department of Health and Human Services has declared public health emergencies in Florida, Georgia and South Carolina as Hurricane Dorian continues to move closer to the Southeast coast.

The Federal Communications Commission’s Connected Care Pilot Program is “a welcome and critical step” toward advancing the progress of connected care, and the FCC should “adopt rules that will implement the Pilot Program as soon as possible,” the AHA said.

To reduce risk of patient infection, the Food and Drug Administration recommends health care facilities transition to using duodenoscopes with disposable components.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last week issued a health advisory with information on the multistate outbreak of severe pulmonary disease associated with using e-cigarette products.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services last week rejected a request from Idaho for a state innovation waiver under Section 1332 of the Affordable Care Act, saying the agency did not have enough information to evaluate the application.

Bruce Rueben, president of the Florida Hospital Association, will retire at the end of the year, the association announced last week.

The Tennessee Hospital Association has named Wendy Long, M.D., as the association’s next president and CEO.

The AHA's Association for Health Care Resource & Materials Management has elected Steve Kiewiet, chief commercial officer at Intalere, as chair-elect of the 2020 AHRMM board.

The AHA today responded to an HHS request for input from health care providers and other stakeholders on ensuring legitimate access to controlled substances while preventing diversion and abuse.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services today issued guidance for states on how to determine certain sponsored immigrants’ eligibility for Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has partnered with Medscape to offer free online training on its recommendations for vaccinating homeless people against hepatitis A.

The HPV vaccine could prevent an estimated 92% of cancers caused by the human papillomavirus in the United States, according to a new study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Chronic diseases affect 133 million Americans of all ages, including 12 million adults and 400,000 children who have serious illnesses. By 2025, nearly half the population will have one or more chronic conditions.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration today released a proposed rule that would amend federal regulations regarding disclosure of patient information for individuals seeking treatment for substance use disorders.