News

Lesbian, gay and bisexual persons in the U.S. have higher self-reported prevalence of several underlying health conditions associated with severe COVID-19 outcomes, compared to heterosexual persons, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study.

The Food and Drug Administration revised and reissued its emergency use authorization for COVID-19 convalescent plasma to treat hospitalized patients with COVID-19.

Though the COVID-19 pandemic has brought us excruciatingly difficult times, I keep saying this is the finest hour for hospitals. Our field has risen to incredible challenges with expertise, commitment and compassion, and it’s inspiring to see.

Each year, the AHA Dick Davidson NOVA Award program recognizes health care’s bright stars who are working to improve community health through collaborations with other stakeholders.

The Health Information Sharing and Analysis Center and AHA will host a Feb. 10 panel discussion on best practices to combat unlawful robocalls to hospitals.

The U.S. health care system saves an estimated $122 billion annually by automating administrative transactions but could save $16.3 billion more by transitioning to fully electronic transactions, according to the latest annual CAQH Index.

Hospitals and health systems lost 2,100 jobs in January, as U.S. jobs overall increased by 49,000, according to data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The House and Senate passed a concurrent budget resolution giving Congress the option to use fast-track procedures to pass the president’s $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package with a simple majority in the Senate.

Between March 22 and Oct. 17, 2020, weekly COVID-19-associated hospitalization rates reported by 10 COVID-19-Associated Hospitalization Surveillance Network sites declined by 5.5 percentage points for adults under age 65 after states began mandating the use of facemasks, according to a report released by the CDC.

The Food and Drug Administration cautioned health care providers against using compounded remdesivir drug products due to the potential for patient exposure to substandard or adulterated products.

The Food and Drug Administration announced that its Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee will convene Feb. 26 to discuss the emergency use authorization application by Johnson & Johnson and Janssen Biotech, Inc. for its investigational single-dose COVID-19 vaccine candidate.

President Biden and congressional Democrats are moving forward with the president’s $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief proposal.

In this fourth webinar in a series from AHA, the Hospital at Home Users Group and American Academy of Home Care Medicine, panelists will examine best practices for organizing and managing services and staffing needed for the at-home delivery of high-quality acute care.

The House of Representatives voted 218-212 to pass a budget resolution for fiscal year 2021 that gives Congress the option to use fast-track procedures to pass President Biden’s $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package with a simple majority in the Senate.

The AHA urged the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to use its oversight authority for Medicare Advantage, Medicaid managed care, Children’s Health Insurance Program and Health Insurance Marketplace health plans to prevent UnitedHealthcare from implementing certain diagnostic and specialty pharmacy coverage restrictions for enrollees.

AHA is partnering with the American Medical Association and the American Nurses Association to urge the public to get vaccinated against COVID-19 when their opportunity arises.

The AHA voiced support for the Ensuring Coverage in Public Health Emergencies Act (H.R. 526), legislation that would automatically trigger a special enrollment period so consumers can apply for Marketplace or employer-sponsored coverage during a public health emergency.

Four health care leaders in rural Montana discuss how their organizations are adjusting their internal operations to accommodate COVID-19 patients; rallying their communities together and building new relationships; and rebuilding on the path forward.

With help from a health equity grant collaboration between the AHA’s Institute for Diversity and Health Equity and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois, UnityPoint launched its CenteringPregnancy Care to Mitigate Racial Disparities Program.

Thomas Yackel, M.D., president of MCV Physicians at VCU Health System, Richmond, Va., will chair AHA’s Committee on Clinical Leadership in 2021. Daniel Handel, M.D., vice president and chief medical officer for the south central region of Indiana University Health, Indianapolis, will serve as chair-elect.