AHA Podcast: The New Model Predicting Teen Mental Health Risks
Duke University researchers unveiled the Duke PMA, an AI‑driven model that predicts adolescent psychiatric risk by analyzing sleep patterns, device usage, and other lifestyle factors. The model leverages large‑scale biostatistical data to generate individualized risk scores for teens. Researchers highlighted its potential to enable early interventions, particularly in low‑resource settings where mental‑health services are scarce. The podcast discusses how this technology could reshape preventive mental‑health care for youth.
White House Announces Expansion of TrumpRx.gov
The White House announced an expansion of TrumpRx.gov, the federal prescription‑discount program launched under the Trump administration. The rollout adds roughly 200 new brand‑name and generic drugs and widens eligibility to all Medicare Part D beneficiaries, not just seniors on low...
Analysis Finds Marketplace Enrollment Could Fall by at Least 17% in 2026
An analysis released this week projects that enrollment in the Affordable Care Act’s health insurance marketplaces will decline by at least 17% by 2026, compared with current levels. The forecast attributes the drop to rising premiums, the phasing out of...
Sutter Health Strengthens Maternal Care Through Innovation and Connection
Sutter Health launched a systemwide maternal‑care initiative that aligns evidence‑based protocols, data dashboards, and multidisciplinary collaboration across its 16 labor‑and‑delivery sites. By expanding certified nurse‑midwife access, integrating doula support, and scaling group prenatal care, the health system increased CNM‑delivered births...
CDC Says 41 Across U.S. Being Monitored for Hantavirus
The CDC announced that 41 people nationwide are being monitored for hantavirus after an outbreak on an Atlantic‑ocean cruise ship. The cohort includes 16 passengers quarantined in Omaha, Nebraska, two in Atlanta, Georgia, and others who returned home or were...
Strengthening Medicare Advantage to Better Serve Today’s Seniors
Medicare Advantage (MA) enrollment is expected to rise from 35 million today to about 45 million by 2030, covering roughly one‑tenth of the U.S. population. Hospital leaders have urged stronger federal oversight after many MA plans delay or deny care, especially through...
CMS Releases Details to Download Upcoming CAH Payment Patterns Report
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced details for downloading its fiscal year 2025 Program for Evaluating Payment Patterns Electronic Report (PEPPER) focused on critical access hospitals. The report, slated for release later this month, aggregates provider‑specific Medicare...
AHA Healthier Together Conference Concludes with Sessions on AI, Person-Centered Care
The American Heart Association concluded its first Healthier Together Conference in Dallas with a plenary on AI‑driven tools reshaping community health. Data science chief Jennifer Hall and Houston Methodist’s innovation officer Roberta Levy Schwartz outlined emerging AI applications and cautioned about...
CMS Announces 6-Month Enrollment Moratorium on Home Health and Hospice Providers
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a six‑month nationwide moratorium that blocks enrollment of new home health agencies and hospice providers, effective immediately. The pause is tied to Vice President JD Vance’s Anti‑Fraud Task Force and is...
CDC Issues Advisory on Hantavirus Cluster Linked to Cruise Ship
On May 8, the CDC released a Health Alert Network advisory warning clinicians about a recent hantavirus cluster linked to an Atlantic‑crossing cruise ship. The World Health Organization confirmed the outbreak involved the Andes strain, which can spread between people, and...
Five Programs Honored with 2026 AHA Dick Davidson NOVA Award
The American Hospital Association announced the five 2026 Dick Davidson NOVA Award winners for their innovative community‑health initiatives. Honorees include the Juvenile Justice Collaborative at Lurie Children’s Hospital, a pediatric telemental‑health program at Children’s of Alabama, Denver Health’s housing outreach,...
Musicians Send Thank-You to Caregivers During National Hospital Week
The American Hospital Association (AHA) has teamed up with Musicians On Call to deliver video thank‑you messages from singers and songwriters to hospital staff during National Hospital Week (May 10‑16). Actor‑musician Charles Esten released the first tribute, praising caregivers’ dedication, with additional...
AHA Podcast: Healing Trauma From Violence
The American Hospital Association released a podcast featuring Elinore Kaufman, MD, medical director of the Penn Trauma Violence Recovery Program, and Michele Volpe, COO of the University of Pennsylvania Health System. They discuss how hospital‑based violence intervention programs are extending...
Chair File: Hospitals Integrate Behavioral Health Care, Provide Hope and Healing
The American Hospital Association (AHA) is amplifying its focus on behavioral health by outlining four strategic priorities: integration of physical and mental care, community partnerships, stigma reduction, and suicide prevention. The initiative coincides with Mental Health Awareness Month and National...
FDA Issues Most Serious Recall for Certain Pacemaker Devices by Boston Scientific
The FDA issued a Class I recall for Boston Scientific’s ACCOLADE pacemakers and cardiac resynchronization therapy models after detecting a software‑related battery flaw that can trigger Safety Mode and limit pacing. The agency advises clinicians to install a software upgrade during...
AHA Chair Authors Column in USA Today Insert on Advancing Patient Safety
American Hospital Association (AHA) Chair Marc Boom, M.D., published a column in the May 8 edition of USA Today’s special insert on patient safety. The piece underscores how hospitals and health systems are continuously raising safety standards by leveraging innovation across...
AHA Pushes Back on Families USA Report
The American Hospital Association (AHA) pushed back on a May 7 report from Families USA, calling it "long on rhetoric, short on reality." The AHA argued that hospitals are price takers, constrained by Medicare rates and insurer negotiations, and that the report...
Microsoft Warns of Sophisticated Phishing Campaign Heavily Targeting Health Care Organizations
Microsoft Threat Intelligence has identified a large‑scale, multistage phishing campaign that disproportionately targeted the U.S. health‑care sector. The operation sent “code of conduct” themed emails to more than 35,000 users across 13,000 organizations, using adversary‑in‑the‑middle techniques to hijack authentication tokens...
National Hospital Week: Always Here for Our Patients and Communities
National Hospital Week, observed May 10‑16, spotlights the indispensable role of hospitals and their staff in American communities. The American Hospital Association (AHA) is distributing social‑media toolkits, infographics, and advisory resources to help health systems recognize caregivers during the week....
Interim Final Rule Extends HHS Deadlines for Section 504 Web, App Nondiscrimination Requirements
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued an interim final rule on May 7, 2026 that pushes back the Section 504 web and mobile‑app accessibility deadlines for entities receiving federal funds. Organizations with 15 or more employees now must comply by...
AHA Expresses Support for Comprehensive Bill on Medicare Advantage Reform
The American Hospital Association (AHA) sent a letter to congressional leaders endorsing the Medicare Advantage Improvement Act (H.R. 8375/S. 4384). The bipartisan bill proposes sweeping reforms to curb practices in Medicare Advantage (MA) plans that limit care access and delay provider payments....
CMS to Provide Medicare Part D Beneficiaries with $50 Monthly Access to Certain GLP-1 Medications
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced a short‑term demonstration called the Medicare GLP‑1 Bridge, offering eligible Part D beneficiaries access to selected GLP‑1 drugs for $50 per month. The benefit starts July 1 2026 and runs through Dec 31 2027. The program is...
AHA Releases Additional National Hospital Week Resources; National Nurses Week Begins
The American Hospital Association (AHA) unveiled a suite of new resources for National Hospital Week, running May 10‑16, including an impact infographic, a "Telling the Hospital Story" flipbook, and a custom Wordle puzzle in partnership with The New York Times. Additional social graphics,...
White House Announces National Drug Control Strategy
On May 4, the White House unveiled its 2026 National Drug Control Strategy, prioritizing evidence‑based primary prevention programs and a nationwide media campaign to curb drug use among youth. The plan creates new partnerships with organizations focused on youth health...
AHA Blog Pushes Back on NYT Op-Ed
The American Hospital Association (AHA) blog rebutted a recent New York Times op‑ed that blamed hospitals for rising health‑care costs. The AHA argues the piece oversimplifies a complex system and unfairly singles out hospitals. It calls for comprehensive, fact‑based policies...
CISA Announces Initiative to Bolster Critical Infrastructure Against Nation-State Cyberattacks
CISA has launched the “CI Fortify” initiative to boost cyber resilience of critical infrastructure, emphasizing proactive isolation from third‑party networks and detailed recovery planning. The program directs organizations to document systems, maintain offline backups, and rehearse manual operation switches if...
AHA Podcast: When Partnerships Bring Care Closer to Kids
Children’s Mercy Kansas City teamed with Operation Breakthrough to launch a mobile, whole‑person pediatric care program aimed at families living in poverty. The partnership tackles barriers such as transportation, childcare and job insecurity by bringing medical, behavioral and social services...
Setting the Record Straight: Three Ways the Hospital‑blame Narrative Gets It Wrong
A recent New York Times guest essay blames hospitals for the 320 percent rise in insurance premiums over the past 25 years, but the argument overlooks how hospitals are largely price takers under Medicare, Medicaid and negotiated commercial contracts. The piece also excuses commercial...
AHA Comments on Proposed Changes to Medicare Advantage, Part D Data Reporting Requirements
The American Hospital Association (AHA) submitted formal comments to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on proposed revisions to Medicare Advantage (MA) and Part D data reporting for contract year 2027. The changes clarify contract definitions, require reporting for...
HHS Announces Action Plan on Psychiatric ‘Overprescribing’
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services unveiled an action plan aimed at curbing the overprescribing of psychiatric medications, with a particular focus on children. The strategy calls for systematic evaluation of prescription trends, promotion of non‑drug therapies, and...
AHA Tactical Brief Available on Integrated Behavioral Health
The American Hospital Association released a tactical brief outlining how integrating behavioral and physical health care can treat patients more holistically. It highlights core components such as co‑location, team‑based care, patient‑centered approaches, and robust care management. The brief features insights...
AHA Podcast: Reducing Stigma in Substance Use Disorder Care
In a recent AHA podcast, three leaders from CommonSpirit Health detailed how the system is tackling stigma around substance‑use disorder (SUD) through education, storytelling, language reform, and grassroots culture change. They explained that shifting terminology, providing staff training, and amplifying...
Webinar to Explore AI Use in Cybersecurity, Health Care Technology
A joint webinar hosted by the American Hospital Association and the Joint Commission will explore how artificial intelligence can strengthen cybersecurity in health‑care settings. The event highlights the newly launched Cyber Resilience Readiness program, recent guidance from CISA and the...
AHA, Joint Commission Announce Cybersecurity Readiness Effort
The American Hospital Association and the Joint Commission unveiled the Cyber Resilience Readiness program, a voluntary initiative designed to help hospitals and health systems sustain safe, quality clinical operations during cyber‑related outages lasting 30 days or more. Unlike traditional IT‑focused...
South Carolina Measles Outbreak Declared over; Utah Reaches 625 Cases
South Carolina’s measles outbreak, which infected 997 people, was declared over after a 42‑day stretch with no new cases, meeting the CDC’s containment threshold on April 26. During the crisis, statewide MMR vaccinations jumped 31.1% and Spartanburg County saw a 93.6%...
Agencies Issue Guidance on Adopting Agentic AI Systems
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the National Security Agency (NSA), and a coalition of international partners have published new guidance on the safe adoption of agentic artificial intelligence systems, especially those built on large‑language models. The document outlines...
CMS Launches Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule Reporting Module for Data Collection
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has launched a Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule (CLFS) reporting module to collect private‑payor rate data. CMS provided a quick‑reference guide, an FAQ on the Protecting Access to Medicare Act (PAMA) reporting, and...
Registration Opens for Virtual CMS Event on Interoperability
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) opened registration for a virtual event focused on health‑care interoperability, inviting over 1,000 hospital and health‑system leaders. The event will showcase a new CMS‑FDA collaborative pathway designed to accelerate market entry for...
Behavioral Health Is Health Care
Mental Health Awareness Month underscores a surge in demand for behavioral health services across hospitals. Emergency departments, primary care, and pediatric clinics are seeing record numbers of patients in crisis. Health systems are responding by embedding behavioral specialists, expanding tele‑behavioral...
DOE Issues Final Rule on Updated Definition of ‘Professional Student’
On April 30 the U.S. Department of Education issued a final rule redefining “professional student” and “graduate student” for federal loan eligibility. The rule limits professional student status to 11 specific degree programs, granting up to $50,000 per year and a...
President Names Nicole Saphier as New Surgeon General Nominee
President Trump announced on April 30 that radiologist Nicole Saphier, director of breast imaging at Memorial Sloan Kettering Monmouth, has been nominated to serve as the next U.S. surgeon general. The nomination comes as the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions...
Senators Introduce AHA-Supported Bill Granting Extension of Medicare Payment Model for Rural Hospitals
Senators Chuck Grassley and Michael Bennet introduced the Rural Community Hospital Demonstration Reauthorization Act, a bipartisan bill that would extend a cost‑based Medicare payment model for rural hospitals by five years. The model applies to facilities with 50 beds or...
Agencies Release Joint Guide on Zero Trust Adoption in Operational Technology
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, together with other federal bodies, released a joint guide to help organizations apply zero‑trust principles to operational technology (OT) systems. The guide outlines how to navigate OT’s unique constraints, tackle visibility challenges, and prioritize...
AHA and West Health Launch National Accelerator to Scale Technology-Enabled Patient Care Solutions
The American Hospital Association (AHA) and West Health Institute have launched a three‑year West Health Accelerator, backed by a $12 million commitment, to help hospitals operationalize proven technology solutions. The program targets electronic health record (EHR) optimization, virtual care, and artificial...
Lawmakers Urged by AHA to Support Key Health Initiatives in FY 2027 Appropriations Bill
The American Hospital Association (AHA) urged House and Senate appropriations committee leaders to prioritize funding for a suite of health‑care initiatives in the FY 2027 appropriations bills. The association highlighted programs that improve workforce capacity, maternal and child health, rural access,...
AHRQ Seeks Nominees to Serve on U.S. Preventive Services Task Force
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) has opened nominations for new members of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF). While all candidates will be reviewed, the agency is especially seeking physician specialists in fields such as cardiology,...
FDA Confirms Safety of U.S. Infant Formula Supply
The FDA announced on April 29 that its testing of more than 300 infant‑formula products found contaminant levels to be undetectable or well below safety limits, concluding the U.S. supply is safe. The agency screened for lead, mercury, cadmium, arsenic, glyphosate,...
AHA Podcast Highlights Menopause Care and Need to Close Gaps in Medical Training
The American Hospital Association’s podcast features University of Illinois Chicago experts Pauline Maki, Ph.D., and Makeba Williams, M.D., discussing a breakthrough moment in menopause care. They detail how menopause influences brain function, mood, and cardiovascular health, while highlighting the stark...
FDA Identifies Recall of Catheter Kits, Early Alert for Sterile Labels
The FDA announced a nationwide recall of Arrow International dialysis catheter kits that contain Merit Medical 16F Dual‑Valved Splittable Sheath Introducers because the sheath may not split as designed. Simultaneously, the agency issued an Early Alert for Omnicell i.v.STATION sterile...
Blog: (Re)Designing Care Delivery and Operating Models for the Future at the AHA Leadership Summit
The American Hospital Association’s 2025 Leadership Summit convened senior health‑care executives, clinicians, and innovators in Denver from July 12‑14, spotlighting new care‑delivery and operating‑model strategies. Key sessions examined AI‑enabled patient experiences, value‑based reimbursement, and integrated health networks. The AHA Board elected...