News

CMS seeks comments through Dec. 6 on creating a National Directory of Healthcare Providers and Services to help patients locate providers and compare health plan networks, and reduce directory maintenance burden on providers and payers. 

Effective Oct. 1 for five years, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will pay Average Sales Price plus 8%, rather than ASP plus 6%, for biosimilars whose average sales price does not exceed the price of the reference biological product. The payment increase was included in the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.

Operating margins for U.S. hospitals and health systems were down 24% in August compared to a year ago, driven in large part by a 7.2% increase in labor expenses, according to data from over 900 hospitals reported yesterday by Kaufman Hall.

The Department of Health and Human Services will begin restoring a payment rate of average sales price plus 6% for 340B drug claims in about two weeks, the department told a United States District Court for the District of Columbia.

The AHA’s American Organization for Nursing Leadership affiliate has elected four new members to its board of directors effective Jan. 1.

Nancy Myers, AHA’s vice president of leadership and system innovation, and Marisa Scala-Foley, director of the Aging and Disability Business Institute, discuss how hospitals and health systems are partnering with their Area Agencies on Aging to address the health and social needs of older community members.

Price increases for over 1,200 drugs exceeded inflation between July 2021 and July 2022, including many drugs used to treat cancer and other chronic conditions, the Department of Health and Human Services reported Friday.

Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra yesterday declared a public health emergency for South Carolina to address the health impacts of Hurricane Ian, and waived or modified certain Medicare, Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program requirements to ensure sufficient health care items and services are available.

Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra last week extended for 10 years his Aug. 4 public health emergency for monkeypox under the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act, and authorized additional providers to administer vaccines and therapeutics under the emergency declaration. The original declaration was effective through Dec. 31. 

The AHA Friday joined the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and other national organizations in urging the Supreme Court to review a 9th Circuit decision holding that the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act of 2005 does not provide complete immunity from tort liability for health care providers and other covered entities during the COVID-19 pandemic, “upending Congress’s carefully calibrated scheme.” 

The National Academy of Medicine Action Collaborative on Clinician Well-Being and Resilience today finalized its National Plan for Health Workforce Well-Being, which builds on six years of work among 200 participants, including the AHA.

Each year the AHA Quest for Quality Prize recognizes hospitals and health systems that are achieving high-quality care and improving community health. The AHA heartily encourages your organization to apply for the 2023 award.

The New Hampshire Hospital Association and the Foundation for Healthy Communities Sept. 29 received a Power of Associations Gold Award for their efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic. The American Society of Association Executives' Power of Associations Awards recognize associations’ economic and societal contributions locally, nationally and globally.

The AHA and its Institute for Diversity and Health Equity have revised the criteria for the Carolyn Boone Lewis Equity of Care Award, for which applications are now being accepted. The award is given annually in recognition of outstanding efforts among hospitals and health care systems to advance equity of care to all patients and to share lessons and progress made toward diversity, inclusion and health equity.

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality recently released a guide to help health care organizations reduce their carbon emissions. The guide offers strategies, examples from the field, and measures to track progress in six areas: building energy; transportation; anesthetic gas; pharmaceuticals and chemicals; medical devices and supplies; and food.

Hypertension while pregnant or postpartum can increase the risk of other complications that impact the mom and baby. Alison Williams, vice president of Clinical Quality Improvement at Missouri Hospital Association, and Kendell Farr, Women’s Health nurse practitioner at Hannibal Regional Healthcare System, discuss the launch of a home-based blood pressure monitoring program for at-risk patients, which was lauded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as a Million Hearts 2021 Hypertension Control Exemplar.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention yesterday recommended clinicians test all sexually active patients with monkeypox symptoms for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections due to the risk for severe monkeypox in individuals with HIV and other immunocompromising conditions.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services yesterday released premium and cost-sharing information for Medicare Advantage and Part D prescription drug plans for the 2023 calendar year. CMS projects the average monthly premium for MA plans will fall by $1.52 to $18, while the average monthly premium for a basic Medicare Part D prescription drug plan will fall by 58 cents to $31.50.

Climate change could increase flooding from hurricanes for hospitals in highly populated areas along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, according to a study reported yesterday in GeoHealth. The authors estimate at least half of hospitals in 25 metropolitan areas on these coasts are at risk of flooding from relatively weak hurricanes, and that expected sea level rise this century could increase the odds of flooding by 22%.

The House today voted 230-201 to pass a continuing resolution extending current federal funding levels for health care and other programs through Dec. 16. The Senate approved the measure yesterday. Current government funding expires at midnight tonight.