/ en Tue, 29 Apr 2025 16:12:22 -0500 Tue, 29 Apr 25 14:48:12 -0500 /news/headline/2024-04-15-rick-pollack-kicks-2024-annual-meeting <p>AHA President and CEO Rick Pollack began AHA’s 2024 Annual Meeting remarking on the essential work of hospitals and health systems, as well as the many challenges they are facing, including workforce shortages, underpayment, supply chain issues and cyberattacks.  </p><p>The key to facing these challenges, Pollack said, is to educate policymakers, especially in an election year, about the many obstacles hospitals face. He encouraged members to use AHA’s We Care, We Vote initiative to encourage elected officials and candidates to support legislation and policies that protect patients’ access to care.  </p><p>Though current circumstances are difficult, Pollack reminded attendees that the work of hospitals and health system is vital to the country and that there is hope. “Our communities are counting on us to meet this moment,” he said. “And they are counting on us to help create a better future for health care in our country.” </p> Mon, 15 Apr 2024 15:55:27 -0500 Headline /news/headline/2025-04-29-supreme-court-sides-hhs-case-undercounting-ssi-eligible-recipients-dsh-formula <p>The Supreme Court April 29 <a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/24pdf/23-715_5426.pdf" title="Supco ruling">ruled</a> 7-2 in favor of the Department of Health and Human Services in a case that challenged how HHS applied Congress’ formula for calculating Medicare Disproportionate Share Hospital payments. The formula includes a fraction that counts supplemental security income-eligible Medicare beneficiaries in the numerator and the total Medicare-eligible population in the denominator. The court upheld HHS’s longstanding position that if a patient is ineligible for a monthly cash benefit under SSI, a hospital cannot count that person towards the SSI portion of its DSH fraction.  <br> <br>The AHA last year filed an <a href="/amicus-brief/2024-08-14-aha-amicus-brief-supreme-court-urging-correction-hhs-undercounting-ssi-eligible-recipients-dsh-formula" title="amicus">amicus brief</a> in the case, arguing that HHS was undercounting the number of SSI-eligible Medicare beneficiaries by claiming patients are “entitled to” SSI benefits only if they actually receive SSI benefits, which lowers the numerator in the formula and results in smaller payments.  </p> Tue, 29 Apr 2025 14:48:12 -0500 Headline /news/headline/2025-04-29-house-committee-advances-reauthorization-support-act <p>The House Energy and Commerce Committee held a <a href="https://energycommerce.house.gov/events/full-committee-markup-4" title="comm markup">markup</a> April 29 where it advanced the AHA-supported <a href="https://d1dth6e84htgma.cloudfront.net/21_H_R_2483_SUPPORT_for_Patients_and_Communities_Reauthorization_Act_of_2025_12aef9578c.pdf" title="Support Act">SUPPORT Act (H.R. 2483)</a>. The legislation would reauthorize key prevention, treatment and recovery programs for patients with substance use disorder. </p> Tue, 29 Apr 2025 14:42:17 -0500 Headline /news/headline/2025-04-29-kingston-receive-aha-award-honor <p>The AHA May 5 will award Mary Beth Kingston, Ph.D., its 2025 Award of Honor during the AHA Annual Membership Meeting in Washington, D.C. Kingston, an outspoken advocate for nurse safety, led efforts to reduce violence against the health care workforce through the AHA and federal government, and published extensively on workplace violence reduction and workforce well-being.</p><p>“Mary Beth is an inspirational nursing leader whose cutting-edge efforts on nurse safety and workforce wellbeing has made a tremendous difference for patients and caregivers,” <a href="/press-releases/2025-04-29-mary-beth-kingston-receive-aha-award-honor" title="pollack quote">said</a> AHA President and CEO Rick Pollack. “We thank her for the countless hours serving her communities, including her contributions to the AHA by serving on the board, committees and as chair of the AHA’s Hospitals Against Violence Advisory Group as well as past president of the American Organization of Nursing Leadership.”</p> Tue, 29 Apr 2025 14:38:55 -0500 Headline /news/headline/2025-04-29-aha-honors-health-system-leaders-distinguished-service-award <p>During the 2025 AHA Annual Membership Meeting in Washington, D.C., the AHA will present Melinda Estes, M.D., former president and CEO of Saint Luke's Health System, and Rod Hochman, M.D., former president and CEO of Providence Health and Services, with its highest honor — the Distinguished Service Award — for their longtime service to the AHA and the field.   </p><p>In addition to Saint Luke’s, where she became president in 2011, Estes also served as president and CEO of the University of Vermont Medical Center and held leadership roles at the Cleveland Clinic, which included two years as CEO of Cleveland Clinic Florida. Estes also served as AHA Board Chair in 2020. In addition, she served as chair of the AHA Executive Committee, the Committee on Nominations, the Task Force on COVID-19 Pathways to Recovery, the AHA Physician Alliance Steering Committee, and the Center for Health Innovation Leadership Council, among other committees and groups. </p><p>“A physician leader with an unmatched and unshakable commitment to kindness and caring, Mindy has served her communities with dedication and led the health care field as AHA chair through incredibly challenging times, including the unprecedented COVID pandemic,” <a href="/press-releases/2025-04-28-melinda-estes-md-receive-aha-distinguished-service-award" target="_blank">said</a> AHA President and CEO Rick Pollack. “Mindy’s efforts to improve patient care and access have had a significant impact at the national, state and local levels, and leave a lasting legacy that will be felt for years to come.” </p><p>Hochman worked 45 years in health care, including 17 with Providence. While there, he helped expand access to care, create innovations in care delivery and patient experience, and increase care quality. He served as AHA board chair in 2021. Hochman also chaired the AHA Executive Committee, the Committee on Nominations, the Center for Health Innovation Leadership Council and Regional Policy Board 9. He also has served on the Healthcare Advisory Council, the Health Systems Committee, the Coalition to Strengthen America’s Healthcare Board and other committees and task forces.   </p><p>“A servant leader who always puts patients and caregivers first, Rod has dedicated his life and career to improving access to care for the most vulnerable, and making health care better for all,” <a href="/press-releases/2025-04-28-rod-hochman-md-receive-aha-distinguished-service-award" target="_blank">said</a> Pollack. “In addition to helping lead our field as AHA Chair through the early days of the COVID pandemic, Rod has a unique ability to look into the future and stay ahead of the curve. To state it simply, Rod’s work has improved the lives of millions of Americans and has set a new standard for the hospital field.” </p> Tue, 29 Apr 2025 08:48:11 -0500 Headline /news/headline/2025-04-29-nsa-report-includes-recommendations-ot-device-security <p>The National Security Agency April 23 released a <a href="https://media.defense.gov/2025/Apr/22/2003695617/-1/-1/0/CTR-OTAP-SMART-CONTROLLER-SECURITY-IN-NSS.PDF" target="_blank">report </a>on operational technology systems that includes recommendations for security policies and technical requirements for devices installed in national security systems. The report said that although it is tailored to NSS OT cybersecurity, those in the public and private sector can also use their OT devices to meet the outlined requirements to improve their cybersecurity infrastructure.  </p><p>“Network and internet-connected OT devices are ubiquitous in health care too — everything from building automation systems to badge readers on doors and life-safety systems,” said Scott Gee, AHA deputy national advisor for cybersecurity and risk. “We — as a sector — need to pay close attention to OT security as well.”  </p><p>For more information on this or other cyber and risk issues, contact Gee at <a href="mailto:sgee@aha.org" target="_blank">sgee@aha.org</a>. For the latest cyber and risk resources and threat intelligence, visit <a href="/cybersecurity" target="_blank">aha.org/cybersecurity</a>. </p> Tue, 29 Apr 2025 08:43:21 -0500 Headline /news/headline/2025-04-29-study-shows-successful-use-immunotherapy-drug-instead-traditional-options-treat-cancer <p>A New England Journal of Medicine <a href="https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2404512" target="_blank">study</a> published yesterday found success in administering dostarlimab, an immunotherapy drug, to a group of 103 cancer patients instead of traditional methods such as chemotherapy, radiation or surgery. All 49 patients of the first cohort, who had rectal cancer, had their cancer disappear and continued treatment with nonoperative management. The second cohort of patients had other cancers, and 35 of 54 in that group had their cancer eradicated. Thirty-three continued with nonoperative treatment. </p> Tue, 29 Apr 2025 08:24:40 -0500 Headline /news/headline/2025-04-25-cdc-us-measles-cases-884-mmr-vaccine-essential-prevent-outbreaks <p>There have been 884 confirmed cases of measles nationwide so far this year, with cases reported by 29 states, according to the <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/measles/data-research/index.html" target="_blank">latest data</a> from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. There have been 11 outbreaks, and 93% of confirmed cases (820 of 884) are outbreak-associated. The vaccination status of 97% of all cases is classified as “unvaccinated or unknown.”</p><p>The CDC April 24 released a <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/74/wr/mm7414a1.htm" target="_blank">report</a> that said increasing national and local measles, mumps and rubella vaccination coverage is essential to preventing measles cases and outbreaks. The report also said that cases this year are the second highest in 25 years. A JAMA <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2833361" target="_blank">study</a> also released April 24 found that measles could become endemic again within another 25 years if current childhood vaccination rates remain the same.</p> Fri, 25 Apr 2025 13:44:04 -0500 Headline /news/headline/2025-04-25-fda-announces-recall-certain-iv-bags <p>The Food and Drug Administration published a <a href="https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/amneal-pharmaceutical-llc-issues-nationwide-recall-ropivacaine-hydrochloride-injection-usp" target="_blank">notice</a> from Amneal Pharmaceutical that said the company is recalling two lots of its Ropivacaine Hydrochloride Injection 500mg/100mL Infusion bags due to the products potentially containing inert polypropylene fibers. As of April 18, Amneal Pharmaceuticals said it received no reports of adverse events or injuries related to the recall. The recalled IV bags were distributed nationwide to wholesalers and distributors from April 23-Nov. 8, 2024.</p> Fri, 25 Apr 2025 13:40:12 -0500 Headline /news/headline/2025-04-24-recall-issued-aspiration-system-qapel-medical <p>The Food and Drug Administration has identified a <a href="https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/fda-classifies-qapel-medical-incs-worldwide-medical-device-recall-and-discontinuation-its-072" target="_blank">Class I recall</a> of Q’Apel Medical 072 Aspiration System after the company submitted three device event reports that included a tip detachment, a vessel rupture and a vasospasm.</p> Thu, 24 Apr 2025 15:59:59 -0500 Headline