News

In a study of symptomatic adults tested for SARS-CoV-2 at U.S. pharmacies since Sept. 14, bivalent COVID-19 vaccine boosters provided additional protection compared with previous vaccination with two or more monovalent doses, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported today. The benefit of the bivalent booster increased with time since receipt of the last monovalent dose.

The Biden Administration today launched a six-week campaign to encourage Americans to get an updated COVID-19 vaccine.

North Dakota Health and Human Services has partnered with the North Dakota Hospital Association and other organizations to raise awareness about the life-changing impacts Medicaid has on people who qualify for the program.

The final rule published in August to implement the independent dispute resolution process under the No Surprises Act “follows neither the letter nor the intent of the law,” leaders of the House Ways and Means Committee Friday told the departments of Health and Human Services, Labor and the Treasury.

Philips has reported two potential issues with Respironics Trilogy ventilators that were recalled in June 2021 and reworked, the Food and Drug Administration announced last week. The silicone sound abatement foam used to replace the polyester-based polyurethane foam may separate from the plastic backing, potentially blocking the air inlet and lowering inspiratory pressure, FDA said.

The Department of Justice, joined by Minnesota and New York, plans to appeal a federal court decision allowing UnitedHealth Group to proceed with its proposal to acquire Change Healthcare, according to a notice filed Friday with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia.

Thanksgiving is a perfect time to express gratitude to the health care professionals in our families, neighborhoods and communities.

The Institute for Diversity and Health Equity reminds AHA members to apply by Dec. 1 for the 2023 Equity of Care Awards.

AHA’s American Organization for Nursing Leadership affiliate this week released the first section in a three-part compendium that will focus on best practices to manage nursing workforce complexities.

In recognition of National Rural Health Day Nov. 17, this last in a two-part series on rural behavioral health shares how a critical access hospital in Newland, N.C., obtained an unprecedented Medicare waiver to become a regional behavioral health hospital to expand inpatient capacity for psychiatric services in the community.

The Health Resources and Services Administration this week opened the Provider Relief Fund reporting portal through Dec. 2 for health care providers authorized to report late on how they used PRF payments received between Jan. 1 and June 30, 2021 that totaled over $10,000.

The FBI, Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency, and Department of Health and Human Services yesterday recommended actions to reduce the risk of compromise from Hive ransomware, which has victimized over 1,300 health care and other organizations since last June.

For more than 400 years, we have paused each fall to give thanks. We do so during good times and bad because most years bring a mixture of both.

AHA is adding to its United Against the Flu campaign with new assets that hospitals and health systems can use to encourage the communities they serve to get vaccinated against influenza and COVID-19.

The AHA’s The Value Initiative today released a dashboard to help health care leaders measure and articulate the value of team-based care.

To honor today’s annual celebration of rural hospitals and health systems, AHA’s John Supplitt, senior director of rural health services, talks with Roxie Wells, M.D., president of Cape Fear Valley Hoke Hospital and a member of the AHA Board of Trustees, about rural hospitals’ resilience in the face of change.

Five medical organizations this week released a toolkit for clinicians in post-acute and long-term care settings about the benefits of the COVID-19 bivalent booster and oral antiviral therapeutics. 

Children under age 5 are more likely to receive a COVID-19 vaccine if their parents perceive it as safe and their health care provider recommends it, according to a study released today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In recognition of National Rural Health Day on Nov. 17, 2022, AHA today joined a Twitter chat on rural health literacy hosted by the Rural Health Information Hub and National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health.

In partnership with AHA and others, Amazon Web Services announced the AWS Healthcare Accelerator, a virtual four-week mentorship program beginning in April for startups focused on digital solutions to help train, retain and deploy the health care workforce.