News

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine’s Societal Experts Action Network, which responds to policy questions arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, released guidance on strategies to encourage protective behaviors such as wearing a mask, social distancing and hand washing.

The Department of Health and Human Services formally renewed the COVID-19 public health emergency declaration.

With COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths on the rise in much of the country, negotiations on the next COVID-19 relief package are picking up in the Senate.

Hospitals and health systems are redesigning their delivery systems to bring improved outcomes at lower cost. In this podcast, AHA’s Julia Resnick explores with University of Tennessee Medical Center leaders an approach that concentrates on developing disease specific, patient-centric plans.

The National Labor Relations Board Tuesday modified its standard for determining whether employees engaging in activity protected under the National Labor Relations Act have been lawfully disciplined or discharged after making abusive or offensive statements, including profane, racist and sexually unacceptable remarks.

Medicare accountable care organizations in the 2020 Shared Savings Program have until Sept. 22 to decide whether to move to the Next Generation ACO Model in 2021, while those participating in the 2020 Next Generation ACO Model have until Oct. 23 to make the change, the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation announced.

As COVID-19 cases surge, Washington Regional Medical Center in Fayetteville, Ark., faces growing financial and other pressures that threaten its ability to continue meeting its community’s health care needs.

The AHA and its members are partnering with the Department of Health and Human Services to encourage eligible patients who recover from COVID-19 to donate convalescent plasma, which contains antibodies that could help other patients fight the virus.

The Federal Reserve issued FAQs about the Main Street Lending Program facilities for nonprofit organizations, including the Nonprofit Organization New Loan Facility and the Nonprofit Organization Expanded Loan Facility.

The Department of Health and Human Services will devote $5 billion of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act’s Provider Relief Fund to enhance COVID-19 response at Medicare-certified long-term care facilities and state veterans’ homes, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced.

The AHA has elected eight new members to its Board of Trustees for three-year terms beginning Jan. 1.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said it is investigating a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Newport infections.

The financial outlook for Phoenix-based Banner Health has changed dramatically since the pandemic entered their communities and forced the shutdown of non-emergency services.

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and the National Academy of Medicine July 24 will host its inaugural committee meeting on the equitable allocation of a COVID-19 vaccine.

The Coalition to Protect America’s Health Care launched a national television ad urging Congress to pass emergency funding to help provide immediate financial relief to hospitals and health systems.

The Department of Health and Humans Services said it has an agreement with Pfizer to produce and deliver 100 million doses of the drug maker’s COVID-19 vaccine candidate.

The Senate Special Committee on Aging held a hearing on the COVID-19 pandemic and seniors, which focused on racial health disparities.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently posted updated considerations for ending isolation for adults with COVID-19, based on new evidence.

When ordering COVID-19 laboratory tests or collecting specimens, health care providers should collect certain patient demographic information and responses to certain questions needed for COVID-19 data reporting, according to updated guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The Department of Health and Human Services shared additional information on reporting requirements for recipients of provider relief funds authorized under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act and Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act.