Dec 22, 2011
The AHA appreciates the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' proposal to amend several Medicare and Medicaid rules to promote efficiency and transparency and reduce administrative burden, but is concerned with two of its recommendations related to ambulatory surgical centers, the association...
Dec 22, 2011
Jan. 13 marks the last day hospital leaders can submit the Institute for Diversity in Health Management's survey on hospitals' efforts to address health care disparities and improve diversity management. All hospitals are encouraged to complete the survey, which was mailed to hospital CEOs in...
Dec 22, 2011
Applications are being accepted for the 2012-2013 AHA-NPSF Comprehensive Patient Safety Leadership Fellowship, co-sponsored by the AHA and National Patient Safety Foundation. The Fellowship is a year-long program for clinical and administrative leaders dedicated to improving quality and patient...
Dec 21, 2011
The AHA today filed a friend-of-the-court brief supporting the Colorado governor's decision to opt out of Medicare's physician supervision requirement for certified registered nurse anesthetists to improve access to care for rural residents. The brief urges the state Court of Appeals to uphold...
Dec 21, 2011
The National Labor Relations Board today issued for publication in the Dec. 22 Federal Register a final rule amending its rules and regulations for filing and processing petitions for union representation. The rule takes effect on April 30. Last night, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's National...
Dec 21, 2011
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Monday said it will instruct its contractors to hold claims containing 2012 services paid under the Medicare physician fee schedule through Jan. 17. Unless Congress acts, a 27% payment cut is scheduled to take effect under the fee schedule Jan. 1. CMS...
Dec 21, 2011
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has approved a new three-year Medicaid waiver to support continued health reform efforts in Massachusetts, Gov. Deval Patrick announced yesterday. Massachusetts Hospital Association President and CEO Lynn Nicholas said the waiver agreement "secures...
Dec 20, 2011
The U.S. House of Representatives today voted 229-193 to reject consideration of bipartisan Senate amendments to the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act (H.R. 3630) and request a conference with the Senate on the legislation. In a statement, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said the...
Dec 20, 2011
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will accept through Feb. 6 applications from primary care practices to participate in the Independence at Home Demonstration Program, the agency announced today. Authorized by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and slated to begin Jan. 1,...
Dec 20, 2011
Programs that detect and respond to bioterrorism, disease outbreaks and natural or accidental disasters are at risk due to federal and state budget cuts, according to a new report from Trust for America's Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. For example, all 50 states and Washington,...
