News

Anthem, the country’s second-biggest health insurance company, is behind on billions of dollars in payments owed to hospitals and doctors because of onerous new reimbursement rules, computer problems and mishandled claims, says a Kaiser Health News article that is spotlighted in USA Today.

Kentucky, Maine and New Mexico have completed their transition from the federally facilitated marketplace to their own state-based marketplaces for the 2022 plan year, the Department of Health and Human Services announced.

Johnson & Johnson announced its request that the Food and Drug Administration amend the current emergency use authorization for the J&J COVID-19 vaccine to include a booster dose.

AstraZeneca said it has requested an emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration for its long-acting antibody combination for the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.

The Food and Drug Administration authorized the emergency use of a new over-the-counter COVID-19 antigen test. Unlike most antigen tests for at-home use, the new test does not require serial testing, FDA said.

COVID-19 vaccinations may have helped prevent an estimated 265,000 COVID-19 infections, 107,000 hospitalizations and 39,000 deaths among Medicare beneficiaries between January and May 2021, according to a study released by the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation.

The upcoming Accelerating Health Equity Conference is seeking participants who can help lead discussions via breakout sessions or poster presentations.

The Food and Drug Administration’s Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee Oct. 1 announced that it will meet later this month for a pair of significant discussions on COVID-19 vaccines.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency last week released guidance intended to streamline the application process for hospital generator projects under its Hazard Mitigation Assistance programs.

The Health Resources and Services Administration Oct. 5 will host the second in a series of webinar sessions on how to apply for a portion of $25.5 billion in COVID-19 relief funds.

When we speak about hospitals and community benefit, it’s often a story focused on numbers. But it’s always about the people we serve. 

El Camino Health in Mountain View, Calif., will host a free virtual symposium Oct. 7 on maternal mental health.

The AHA is accepting applications through Oct. 15 for its 2022 Quest for Quality Prize.

The Food and Drug Administration approved for marketing a computed tomography imaging device that uses advanced technology to help clinicians better diagnose and treat disease.

At least 93% of clinicians eligible to participate in Medicare’s Merit-based Incentive Payment System earned a small positive adjustment in 2017 through 2019, according to a report released by the Government Accountability Office.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has awarded $3 million for 20 planning grants to accelerate public health strategies that reduce the burden of chronic disease among people experiencing health disparities and inequities.

Getting all health care personnel vaccinated against COVID-19 is the right thing to do to keep patients, staff and communities safe. Using a federal regulatory approach to achieve this important goal introduces new challenges that the AHA is working to address. 

The House and Senate today voted to pass a continuing resolution that would extend current federal funding levels for health care and other programs through Dec. 3.

The Office of Personnel Management, and the departments of Health and Human Services, Labor, and Treasury, late this afternoon issued the next in a series of regulations implementing key sections of the No Surprises Act.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration distributed $825 million in grants from the 2021 Consolidated Appropriations Act and Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplement to 231 community mental health centers to expand access to services.