News

The Department of Health and Human Services Sept. 3 announced (https://www.hhs.gov/press-room/hhs-crackdown-health-data-blocking.html) it will increase resources to curb information blocking and take action against health care entities violating information blocking rules.

The AHA Sept. 3 released a study conducted by KNG Health Consulting that found Medicare patients who receive care in a hospital outpatient department are more likely to come from geographically isolated and medically underserved communities and be sicker and more complex to treat than Medicare patients treated in independent physician offices.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Innovation Center Sept. 2 announced changes to the Achieving Healthcare Efficiency through Accountable Design Model, including a new end date of Dec. 31, 2035.

Chinese state-sponsored cyber actors are maliciously targeting networks globally, including telecommunications, government and others, according to a joint advisory released Aug. 27 by the National Security Agency, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, FBI, Department of Defense Cyber Crime Center and international agencies.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is predicting a similar combined number of peak hospitalizations from COVID-19, the flu and respiratory syncytial virus this upcoming respiratory virus season compared to last year’s, according to its 2025-26 outlook released Aug. 25.

Randy Fagin, M.D., chief quality officer at HCA Healthcare, shares insights into the organization’s bold approach to improving safety outcomes.

The House Appropriations Committee today released the fiscal year 2026 appropriations bill for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and related agencies.

The Department of Health and Human Services today announced prescription drug reforms

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has released

The AHA Aug. 28 expressed concerns to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on the calendar year 2026 home health prospective payment system proposed rule. The AHA said that proposed budget neutrality reductions to the HH base payment rate would compound access challenges for beneficiaries needing HH care and disrupt operations for acute care and other hospitals.

The Department of Health and Human Services announced Aug. 27 in a post on X that Susan Monarez was no longer director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The AHA Aug. 28 published a blog responding to a series of reports from the Paragon Health Institute alleging large-scale “fraud” in health care, this time focusing on enrollment in the Health Insurance Marketplace.

The AHA Aug. 28 expressed support for the Preserving Patient Access to Accountable Care Act in comments to House and Senate sponsors of the bill.

The AHA Aug. 26 responded to a request for information as part of the introduction of the Healthy Moms and Babies Act, bipartisan legislation that seeks to improve maternal and child health by increasing services and support and coordinating care.

The AHA Aug. 27 said the Health Resources and Services Administration should abandon its 340B Rebate Model Pilot Program.

The Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy/Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology Aug. 26 released a notice seeking comments on a proposed survey of health technology companies to assess implementation and experiences with information blocking, the 21st Century Cures Act and health care application programming interfaces. Comments must be submitted by Sept. 25.

The AHA and the Hospital Capacity Management Consortium will host a webinar Sept. 4 on the use of predictive analytics within hospital capacity management, with examples provided by hospital and health system leaders.

Read about the 2025 winner and finalist for the Quest for Quality Prize.

A JAMA study published Aug. 20 found that nearly 63% of all U.S. drug production facilities from 2019 through 2024 were in counties where a weather disaster declaration was declared.

The AHA’s Society for Health Care Strategy & Market Development Aug. 21 announced Donna Teach, chief marketing and communications officer for Nationwide Children’s Hospital, is the recipient of its 2025 Leadership Excellence Award.