News

The Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for Civil Rights Sept. 7 released a proposed rule intended to update and clarify requirements under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act that prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability in programs receiving financial assistance from the department, including health care.

The U.S. Treasury Department, in coordination with the United Kingdom, Sept. 7 sanctioned 11 individuals who are part of the Russia-based Trickbot cybercrime group, whose targets have included hospitals and other critical infrastructure organizations.

Republicans on the House Energy and Commerce, Ways and Means, and Education & Workforce Committees have released a summary of draft legislation the committees could introduce as soon as this week.

Meritus Health President and CEO Maulik Joshi discusses the health system’s Care Callers Program, which enlists volunteers to phone patients on request to check on them and connect them with a caring human voice.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Sept. 5 alerted clinicians to a recent increase in respiratory syncytial virus in the Southeastern U.S., which could signal the beginning of 2023-2024 RSV season nationally.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has extended to Sept. 11 the deadline to submit comments on its proposed remedy for the unlawful payment cuts to certain hospitals that participate in the 340B Drug Pricing Program.

The Coalition to Protect America’s Health Care Sept. 6 launched a national television ad and digital campaign urging Congress to reject hundreds of billions of dollars in funding cuts that would jeopardize access to patient care across the country, especially in underserved communities.

Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra last week declared a public health emergency for Florida in response to Hurricane Idalia and waived or modified certain Medicare, Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program requirements to ensure sufficient health care items and services are available.

AHA released an infographic highlighting the latest statistics on U.S. behavioral health hospitals and their services.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention alerted clinicians, laboratories and public health departments to recent fatal infections from Vibrio vulnificus bacteria through open-wound contact with warm coastal waters or raw or undercooked shellfish. The alert includes guidance for managing these infections.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services recently awarded 57 organizations $98.6 million in navigator grants to help consumers enroll in health coverage in the 29 states participating in the federal health insurance marketplace in plan year 2024

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently awarded $279 million to help state and local health departments respond to the drug overdose crisis through treatment and surveillance.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Friday released a proposed rule that would impose minimum staffing requirements for long-term care facilities, including skilled nursing facilities, that participate in Medicare and Medicaid.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will select up to eight states to participate in a new voluntary all-payer model that aims to curb health care cost growth, improve population health, and advance health equity by reducing disparities in health outcomes.

AHA urged the Federal Trade Commission to withdraw its proposed changes to the premerger notification rules, form and instructions under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act, except to the extent they are required to implement the Merger Filing Fee Modernization Act of 2022.

The Federal Bureau of Investigations, amid one of the largest-ever U.S.-led enforcement actions against a botnet, Aug. 29 announced the successful takedown of QakBot, the botnet infrastructure used by cybercriminals for ransomware, financial fraud and other criminal activity.

The Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General Aug. 28 released a strategic plan to align its audits, evaluations, investigations and enforcement of managed care plans in Medicare Advantage and Medicaid.

In response to an Aug. 24 ruling in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas setting aside certain regulations implementing the No Surprises Act’s independent dispute resolution process, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services reiterated its earlier suspension of the IDR process, including the ability to initiate new disputes.   

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services sent to each state letters regarding compliance with federal requirements related to automatic eligibility renewals, known as “ex parte” renewals, under Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program.

July saw the continued worsening of hospitals’ finances, according to a new Kaufman Hall report.