News

The AHA expressed concerns to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services June 10 on payment updates for the fiscal year 2026 proposed rule for the long-term care hospital prospective payment system. The updates include an insufficient market basket update and reduced overall payments to LTCHs due to an increase in the high-cost outlier fixed-loss amount.

The AHA commented on proposed changes to the Transforming Episode Accountability Model, a new, mandatory, episode-based payment model scheduled to begin Jan. 1, 2026.

The AHA June 10 commented on the fiscal year 2026 inpatient psychiatric facility proposed rule, expressing support for several provisions such as increases in the facility-level adjustments.

The AHA June 10 commented to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on its fiscal year 2026 proposed rule for the inpatient rehabilitation facility prospective payment system (https://www.aha.org/news/headline/2025-04-11-cms-proposes-26-payment-update-irfs), voicing support for provisions in the rule that include the removal of some quality reporting program measures.

The AHA June 10 urged the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to provide more adequate and timely payment updates for skilled nursing facilities in comments to the agency on the fiscal year 2026 SNF prospective payment system proposed rule (https://www.aha.org/news/headline/2025-04-11-cms-proposes-28-payment-update-snfs).

The American Society for Health Care Engineering June 10 announced that Chad Beebe, its deputy executive director, has been selected by the National Fire Protection Association Board to serve on its technical committee for NFPA 800, Battery Safety Code.

The White House June 6 issued a memorandum directing the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services “to take appropriate action to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse in Medicaid, including by ensuring Medicaid payments rates are not higher than Medicare, to the extent permitted by applicable law.”

A study published May 27 by JAMA Internal Medicine found declines in self-reported maternal m

In a new AHA blog, Chris DeRienzo, M.D., AHA’s senior vice president and chief

With June 9-13 being Community Health Improvement Week, three experts from HonorHealth discuss how the health care network is addressing community needs beyond traditional care. From addressing food insecurity to launching innovative programs such as the Adult Day Health Care Center, HonorHealth is taking bold steps to strengthen the fabric of its community.

Today is #HAVhope Friday, a national day of awareness highlighting how America’s hospitals and health systems combat violence in their workplaces and communities by seeking partnerships, innovation

An AHA infographic highlighting the Save Healthcare Workers Act (H.R. 3178/S. 1600) includes statistics on the prevalence of workplace violence and its impacts on health care workers

There have been 1,168 confirmed cases of measles across 33 states as of June 6 this year, according to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

SSM Heath’s Amy Wilson, DNP, R.N., chief nurse executive, and Todd Miller, vice president of security, discuss how collaboration between clinical and security teams for workplace violence simulations and de-escalation scenarios is reshaping the culture of safety across their system. 

America’s hospitals and health systems experience firsthand the devastating impact all forms of violence have on individuals’ lives and health.

The House June 4 passed the AHA-supported SUPPORT Act (H.R. 2483) by a 366-57 vote.

Sens. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Andy Kim, D-N.J., June 5 reintroduced the SEPSIS Act (https://www.democrats.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/tam25662pdf.pdf), legislation which would task the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention with continuing its efforts addressing sepsis care.

The FBI, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and Australian Cyber Security Centre June 4 released an advisory on updated actions and tactics used by the Play ransomware group.

The AHA June 4 filed an amicus brief (https://www.aha.org/amicus-brief/2025-06-04-aha-files-brief-defending-tennessees-340b-contract-pharmacy-law) in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee in defense of the state’s 340B contract pharmacy law prohibiting drug companies from denying hospitals the same 340B discounts for drugs dispensed at community pharmacies that would be provided via in-house pharmacies.

The Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response June 5 announced it selected two locations to test an automated, point-of-care, sterile saline manufacturing system that could help prevent or mitigate intravenous fluid shortages in the U.S.