News

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency issued guidance for identifying which infrastructure sectors and essential workers needed to maintain services and functions during the COVID-19 pandemic response, including in the health care and public health sector.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released telehealth toolkits for general practitioners and providers treating patients with end-stage renal disease. Each toolkit links to sources of information on telehealth, such as how to initiate a telemedicine program, monitor patients remotely, develop documentation tools and other topics.

The AHA has urged the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General and Department of Justice to temporarily suspend enforcement of both the Stark Law and the Anti-Kickback Statute to enable hospitals and health systems to “efficiently meet the demands of the public health crisis and compensate referring physicians and their family members.”

AHA urged the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to allow all hospitals to elect to receive periodic interim payments or accelerated payments immediately, and with minimal administrative barriers.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., introduced the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (S. 3548) . The bill is the third large-scale congressional effort in response to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

AHA President and CEO Rick Pollack provides perspective on how our country's frontline health care providers are responding to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Kaiser Family Foundation has released a new, regularly updated tool for tracking coronavirus policy actions, along with data on current cases and deaths, and state-level data on health coverage and provider capacity. 

CMS updated its FAQ for state Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program agencies, answering questions related to flexibilities related to managed care, benefits, financing, Section 1115 demonstrations, and Section 1135 waivers offered as part of the president’s declaration of a national emergency. 

U.S. Pharmacopeia issued guidance on strategies for conserving sterile compounding personal protective equipment and for compounding alcohol-based hand sanitizers to address consumer shortages during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Moody’s Investors Service revised its outlook for the U.S. nonprofit hospital and health care sector from stable to negative, saying revenue will likely decline as hospitals cancel elective surgeries and other services to prepare for a surge of coronavirus cases.

The AHA has released a compendium of resources for hospitals and health systems related to cybersecurity threats during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Robyn Begley, CEO of AHA’s American Organization for Nursing Leadership, attended a White House meeting with President Trump, Vice President Pence, members of the Coronavirus Task Force and leadership from national nursing organizations to discuss nursing’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.    

AHA launched a digital community for member hospital and health system CEOs, where they can receive daily updates on the novel coronavirus and share questions and experiences with their colleagues and the AHA team.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services yesterday issued guidance 

The AHA and 17 other organizations representing health care providers, insurers, suppliers and others urged Congress to take certain immediate actions to strengthen health care capacity and ensure a stable supply of critical resources to address the novel coronavirus. 

The AHA, American Medical Association and American Nurses Association urged congressional leaders to provide $100 billion to front line health care personnel and providers and “direct the federal agencies to begin to infuse funds immediately so that they can afford to take the necessary steps to fight” the novel coronavirus outbreak (COVID-19).

The Senate passed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (H.R. 6201). The House of Representatives March 16 passed by unanimous consent a revised version of the bill that made technical corrections to the legislation that the House originally approved March 14.

President Trump today invoked the Defense Production Act to expand production of ventilators, masks and other emergency medical supplies.

About 80% of deaths and 45% of hospitalizations for COVID-19 in the U.S. are among adults aged 65 or older, with the risk of serious illness and death increasing with age, according to a report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The AHA joined physician and other groups urging the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to take steps to ensure COVID-19 does not derail the Alternative Payment Model and value movement.