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Health care providers who received Provider Relief Fund and/or American Rescue Plan Rural payments exceeding $10,000 total between July 1 and Dec. 31, 2021, must report to the Health Resources and Services Administration by this March 31 on how they used those funds or face enforcement actions.

On Feb. 16 from noon to 3 p.m. ET, the Federal Trade Commission will host a virtual public forum on its recent proposal to ban as an unfair method of competition contractual terms that prohibit workers from pursuing certain employment after their contract with an employer ends.

AHA today released its advocacy agenda for the coming year, which details the association’s key priorities for Congress, the Administration, regulatory agencies and courts to help hospitals and health systems.

Bolivar (Tenn.) General Hospital and its CEO, Ruby Kirby, will receive the

AHA’s American Organization for Nursing Leadership affiliate yesterday released the second section in a three-part compendium that focuses on best practices to manage nursing workforce complexities.

The House last night voted 220-210 to pass legislation (H.R.382) that would immediately terminate the COVID-19 public health emergency, and 227-203 to pass legislation (H.R.497) that would eliminate the COVID-19 vaccine mandate for health care workers at facilities that participate in Medicare or Medicaid.

Following the recent district court decision to remand to the Department of Health and Human Services the question of how to repay 340B hospitals for funds unlawfully withheld for five years, AHA today asked to meet with the responsible HHS team to discuss its forthcoming remedial proposal.  

A new special issue of Health Services Research highlights cutting-edge research from experts in age-friendly care.

Commenting on a proposed rule to improve the exchange of patient records used in the treatment of substance use disorder, AHA said it supports the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s proposal to align definitions and require only a single patient consent in perpetuity for appropriate use and disclosure.

About 100 organizations, including the AHA, urged the Federal Trade Commission to extend by 60 days the comment period for a proposed rule that would ban as an unfair method of competition contractual terms that prohibit workers from pursuing certain employment after their contract with an employer ends.

CMS finalized technical details regarding the Medicare Advantage Risk Adjustment Data Validation program, which the agency uses to recover improper risk adjustment payments from MA plans when the medical diagnoses submitted for payment are not supported in the beneficiary’s medical record.

As the Congressional Telehealth Caucus considers updates to legislation that would permanently remove all geographic restrictions on Medicare telehealth services and expand originating sites, AHA encouraged House and Senate caucus leaders to consider adding provisions that have expanded access to care during the COVID-19 public health emergency. 

The Biden Administration plans to end on May 11 the COVID-19 national and public health emergencies declared in 2020, according to a policy statement released by the Office of Management and Budget opposing House resolutions that would end the emergencies immediately if passed.

CMS released additional guidance on changes to the Medicaid continuous enrollment requirement under recently enacted legislation funding the federal government through fiscal year 2023.

AHA submitted comments in response to CMS request for information on potential changes to Essential Health Benefits requirements under the Affordable Care Act.

Commenting on CMS' proposed Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters for 2024, AHA voiced support for proposals to designate certain behavioral health provider types and Rural Emergency Hospitals as essential community providers, among other proposals.

Last year was the worst financial year for U.S. hospitals and health systems since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, as growth in expenses outpaced growth in revenues and volumes, according to the latest report on hospital finances from Kaufman Hall. 

Drugmakers that participate in the 340B drug pricing program do not have to provide discounted 340B drugs to an unlimited number of contract pharmacies, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit ruled in Sanofi-Aventis U.S. v. HHS et al. Cases raising similar legal questions are pending in the District of Columbia and 7th Circuits.

A pro-Russian hacktivist group known for distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks against countries supporting Ukraine on Jan. 28 allegedly released attack lists for hospitals and medical organizations in several countries, HHS alerted the sector.

This year I’ll be continuing the AHA Leadership Dialogue series and talking with health care, business and community leaders on trending topics in the field.