News

Vice President Pence, on behalf of President Trump and the White House Coronavirus Task Force, sent a letter to the nation's hospitals requesting that all hospitals report certain data on COVID-19 testing results, bed and ventilator capacity.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released a substantial number of new waivers related to COVID-19. The waivers apply nationwide and are retroactive to March 1, 2020.

AHA asked the Department of Health and Human Services and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to directly and expediently distribute to rural and urban hospitals and health systems funds from the Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund that were designated for providers in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act. 

The Joint Commission has issued a new standards FAQ on monitoring patients at high risk for suicide who have known or suspected COVID-19.

The Partnership to Amend 42 CFR Part 2, a coalition of nearly 50 health care organizations including the AHA, applauded Congress’ important step to modernize privacy regulations affecting the disclosure of patients’ substance use disorder treatment records.

The Food and Drug Administration expanded and updated guidance on the emergency use authorization for personal protective equipment.

Getting health care workers on the front line the personal protective equipment they need is the main focus right now for hospital and health system leaders, AHA President and CEO Rick Pollack said on CNN.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced additional details about its implementation of reporting exceptions and extensions across is quality reporting and value programs.

The Food and Drug Administration Friday authorized emergency use of the ID NOW Instrument in patient care settings to quickly test for COVID-19 through direct nasal or throat swab testing.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency coordinated flights from Asia with 80 tons of personal protective equipment for New York, New Jersey and Connected, with more flights going to Illinois today and Ohio Tuesday, FEMA said today in an update on the federal government’s response to COVID-19.

The Department of Health and Human Services said it will speed the development and manufacturing of vaccines to prevent COVID-19, starting a candidate from Johnson & Johnson subsidiary Janssen Research & Development.

President Trump March 27 issued an executive order “to expand domestic production of health and medical resources needed to respond to the spread of COVID-19, including personal protective equipment and ventilators,” as enabled by the Defense Production Act.

President Trump said the guidelines for containing the spread of COVID-19, including social distancing, will extend through April 30.

The AHA released a Special Bulletin with information on loan and payroll tax provisions included in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act that may help hospitals and health systems maintain adequate cash flow.

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai issued a draft order that would create a program to help eligible health care providers purchase telecommunications, broadband and devices to provide telehealth services to COVID-19 patients and others at higher risk for the virus while reducing practitioners’ exposure.

Giving a voice to health care leaders everywhere, AHA Board Chair Melinda Estes, M.D., president and CEO of Saint Luke’s Health System in Kansas City, Mo., recently shared the following message with the team at Saint Luke’s.

The Department of Veterans Affairs has released a comprehensive plan to respond to COVID-19.

To meet the urgent need to expand laboratory capacity, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced a relaxed enforcement policy under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments during the COVID-19 public health emergency with respect to review of pathology slides, proficiency testing, alternate collection devices, and requirements for a CLIA certificate.

The AHA announced a national initiative to secure millions of masks for health care workers, including physicians, nurses and caregivers treating COVID-19 patients and at greater risk due to the nationwide shortage of personal protective equipment.

The House by voice vote passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act (H.R. 748). The legislation is the third large-scale congressional effort in response to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. The Senate passed the bill 96-0. President Trump is expected to sign it.