News

The Physician-Focused Payment Model Technical Advisory Committee this week recommended that Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar approve a Medicare payment demonstration to test two alternative payment models to support people with advanced illness.

The price of the 20 most prescribed brand-name drugs in the Medicare Part D program increased an average 12% per year between 2012 and 2017, about 10 times more than the average annual rate of inflation.

Thirty-five organizations representing a wide range of health care professions and medical specialties yesterday filed an amicus brief urging the Supreme Court to maintain the injunction that restricted travelers from certain countries entering the United States.

Utah Gov. Gary Herbert yesterday signed legislation amending the state Medicaid program to expand eligibility to certain low-income individuals.

Organizations and groups that provide palliative or end-of-life care may apply through Aug. 13 for the 2019 Circle of Life Awards, which honor outstanding and innovative palliative and end-of-life care programs.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration will host a March 28 webinar for health care professionals on “Overcoming Stigma, Ending Discrimination,” the first in a four-part webi

The American Dental Association has adopted a policy supporting certain statutory limits on opioid dosage and duration and mandatory continuing education in prescribing opioids and other controlled substances.

Connecticut hospitals invested $1.7 billion in community benefit activities in 2016, according to a new report by the Connecticut Hospital Association.

Illinois hospitals and health systems generate $95.3 billion a year and an estimated 466,000 direct and indirect jobs for the state’s economy, according to a new report by the Illinois Health and Hospital Association.

Commenting on a proposed rule protecting statutory conscience rights in health care, the AHA today reiterated that conscience protections for health care professionals "are long-standing and deeply rooted in our health care delivery system."

The AHA Friday submitted comments to Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Tom Carper (D-DE), Todd Young (R-IN) and Claire McCaskill (D-MO) as they develop legislation to improve price transparency in the health care market and lower costs.

Medicare pays long-term care hospitals less than half the cost of care for site-neutral cases under the LTCH prospective payment system, AHA told the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Friday.

Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar will speak at the AHA Annual Membership Meeting on May 8 in Washington, D.C. Azar became HHS secretary in January.

AHA’s Section for Maternal and Child Health and Hospitals Against Violence initiative will host a March 27 webinar on how hospitals and health systems can combat interpersonal violence in their communities.

Eating healthful foods is important for good health, but individuals and households that are “food insecure” face challenges when it comes to getting enough food, consuming high-quality food or both.

The AHA’s 49th Annual Membership Meeting, May 6-9, comes at a critical time for the hospital and health care field. And its theme – Redefining the “H” – could not be more appropriate.

The flu hospitalization rate rose last week to 93.5 per 100,000 people, although outpatient visits for flu-like illness continue to decline, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported today.

Clinicians participating in the Merit-based Incentive Payment System must submit their 2017 performance data by March 31, including those participating in the Advancing Care Information performance category.

Limiting work shifts to 16 hours generally makes first-year medical residents more satisfied with their training and work-life balance, but their training directors more dissatisfied with curtailed educational opportunities.

About 40% of U.S. adults were obese in 2015-2016, up from 34% in 2007-2008.