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Insured and uninsured Americans children aged 5-11 can also receive the new bivalent Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 boosters at no cost as long as the federal government continues to purchase and distribute them, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced today.

The U.S. Supreme Court should affirm the government’s authority to dismiss a False Claims Act lawsuit after declining to intervene in the case, the AHA, U.S. Chamber of Commerce and American Health Care Association said in a friend-of-the-court brief filed today. 

As Congress begins to focus on its year-end agenda, AHA today urged lawmakers to prioritize certain actions to help hospitals and health systems address rising costs, workforce challenges and diminished Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements.

Hospital and health system teams today not only are caring for one patient at a time but also improving the health of their communities.

The FBI, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and Department of Health and Human Services today alerted U.S. organizations to a cybercrime group targeting the health care sector with ransomware and data extortion operations. The group has attacked multiple organizations since June, deploying ransomware to encrypt servers responsible for health care services, exfiltrating personal identifiable information and patient health information, and threatening to release the information if a ransom is not paid.

In recognition of National Women’s Blood Pressure Awareness Week, Oct. 17-23, Shanna Cox, associate director for science at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, discusses the increase in hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and how the CDC’s Hear Her campaign resources can help hospitals identify and prevent associated complications.

The FBI yesterday recommended U.S. organizations take certain actions to protect their networks against the Iranian cybergroup Emennet Pasargad, which has recently used hack-and-leak techniques and false personas to target organizations, including one in the United States.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices yesterday recommended updates to the 2023 childhood and adult immunization schedules, which include incorporating additional information for approved or authorized COVID-19 vaccines.

Hospitals serving marginalized urban communities need additional federal support so they can meet their mission of advancing health for the patients and communities they serve, writes Ashley Thompson, AHA’s senior vice president of public policy, based on a new report by NORC at the University of Chicago.

U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, M.D., yesterday released a framework outlining recommended policies, processes and practices to support mental health and well-being in the workplace.

The health care field continues to be a top target for cybercriminals.

The FDA authorized, and the CDC recommended, the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine as a first booster dose for adults who would not otherwise receive one.

AHA received a $1.5 million grant from the CDC to support COVID-19 vaccine confidence efforts through September 2023, including working with the Children’s Hospital Association on pediatric vaccination.

Medicare Administrative Contractors will pay 340B hospitals Average Sales Price plus 6%, rather than ASP minus 22.5%, for all CY 2022 drug claims with modifier “JG,” CMS confirmed for AHA yesterday.

The AHA and AMA filed a friend-of-the-court brief claiming the revised independent dispute resolution process for determining payment for out-of-network services under the No Surprises Act skews the arbitration results in commercial insurers’ favor.

In the latest podcast in AHA’s Advancing Health podcast series on leading initiatives to transform care and advance equity, NorthShore University HealthSystem credits its success improving clinical outcomes and equity to its “Look, listen and learn” approach, which earned the Illinois-based health system a 2022 AHA Quest for Quality Citation of Merit.

State Medicaid, mental health and other agencies can apply through Dec. 19 for up to $1 million each to develop Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics.

The AHA and its Physician Alliance today released a guide to help hospital and health system leaders prioritize and support a robust succession planning program for their organization, based on challenges and opportunities identified by their peers.

AHA has released an infographic to help hospitals and health systems communicate the vital role they play in America’s health and their communities.

Staff emotional health and well-being, staff retention and the cost of travel nursing were the top three challenges facing nurse leaders in August, although staff emotional health has improved since last year, according to the latest survey by AHA’s American Organization for Nursing Leadership and Joslin Insight.