News

In an alert this week, the Department of Health and Human Services’ Health Sector Cybersecurity Coordination Center (HC3) reminded health care providers and researchers to patch any vulnerabilities in their Picture Archiving Communication Systems that could expose patient records to unauthorized access.

As the nation grapples with the complicated logistics of fair and efficient vaccine distribution, this conversation with two senior officials from the National Urban League explores best practices and strategies hospitals and health systems can use to reach Black, Latinx and underserved communities.

Enrollment in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program increased 5.6% between July 2019 and July 2020, driven largely by the economic downturn created by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a report released by the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services posted additional information to help health care providers implement six new ICD-10 diagnosis codes for reporting conditions related to COVID-19 on medical claims effective Jan. 1. The information includes updated coding guidelines, code descriptions and other details. 

The Food and Drug Administration authorized a prescription BinaxNOW COVID-19 test for use by patients at home, in partnership with a telehealth service that will take users through the sample collection process and assist in reading and understanding the results.

Drug overdose deaths increased 18% over the 12-month period that ended in May to a record 81,230, according to a new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advisory.

AHA launched #MyWhy, a social media campaign that amplifies health care workers’ voices on the importance of getting vaccinated against COVID-19.

The AHA released a new edition of the COVID-19 Snapshot, highlighting the critical needs of hospitals and health systems during the deepening public health emergency.

The Food and Drug Administration Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research Prevention has addressed new information that shipped vials of Pfizer’s BND162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine contain extra doses, indicating that it is acceptable to use every full dose obtainable from each product vial.

A Federal Communications Commission advisory panel this week recommended best practices for voice service providers, hospitals, and federal and state governments to prevent unlawful robocalls from disrupting communications in hospitals.

U.S. spending on health care grew 4.6% in 2019, similar to 2018 but slightly more than overall growth in the economy, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services reported in Health Affairs.

New Mexico-based Presbyterian Health System offers a wide range of health services, such as diabetic care, that can be provided in the patient’s home. Its innovative hospital-at-home model is improving outcomes and the patient experience while reducing costs.

The AHA, in collaboration with its Institute for Diversity and Health Equity, released two resources to support hospital and health system efforts to eliminate health disparities.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will award states and territories another $227 million in funding from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act and Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act for COVID-19 vaccine preparedness and complementary activities, the Department of Health and Human Services announced.

The Department of Health and Human Services announced that it has begun distributing $24.5 billion in “Phase 3” funds from the Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund to eligible hospitals, as well as other providers.

The AHA invites hospitals and health systems to participate in the Better Maternal Outcomes Improvement Sprint, a free, six-week program focused on reducing harm from hypertension.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services seeks comments through Feb. 16 on a proposed Review Choice demonstration for inpatient rehabilitation facilities, which seeks to improve methods to investigate and prosecute Medicare fraud.

Dallas-based Parkland Health and Hospital System brings physical and behavioral health together by integrating suicide risk screenings in all patient visits, write the AHA’s Elisa Arespacochaga, vice president of the Physician Alliance, and Rebecca Chickey, senior director of behavioral health services field engagement.

Children and adolescents in Mississippi who tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus were more likely to report close contact with someone with confirmed COVID-19 and less likely to report consistent mask use at school, according to a study released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The AHA released a new edition of the COVID-19 Snapshot, highlighting the critical needs of hospitals and health systems during the deepening public health emergency.