MACPAC Recommends Increase in Wage Transparency for Home- and Community-Based Service Workers
The Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC) released its March 2026 report to Congress, recommending that states disclose hourly wages for home‑ and community‑based service (HCBS) workers. The proposal aims to give states clearer data for setting effective HCBS payment rates. The report also covers Medicaid’s role in behavioral health, youth justice, and child‑welfare systems, but the wage‑transparency recommendation is the headline. By mandating wage reporting, MACPAC seeks to strengthen the HCBS workforce and improve care affordability.
Medical Technology Company Stryker Disrupted Globally by Cyberattack
Stryker, a leading medical‑technology supplier, announced a cyberattack on March 11 that compromised its Microsoft environment, though no ransomware or malware was detected. The breach disrupted the company’s global operations and prompted immediate containment efforts. Stryker is coordinating with hospital networks...
Report Finds Medicare Premiums Are Higher Due to MA Overpayments
A recent report reveals that Medicare Advantage (MA) overpayments are driving higher premiums for traditional Medicare beneficiaries. The analysis shows that excess payments to private MA plans have been passed on to the broader Medicare pool, inflating costs for all...
ASPR to Invest in Domestic Production of Ingredient for Pain Management, Overdose Reversal Medications
The Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) announced a new investment to boost domestic production of thebaine, a key precursor for pain‑management opioids, alcohol‑use‑disorder treatments, and opioid‑overdose reversal drugs. Funding will be awarded to Antheia, Inc., a Menlo Park...
Building Trust and Improving Lives Through Community Partnerships
The American Hospital Association’s Foster G. McGaw Prize spotlights hospitals that extend care beyond their walls through community partnerships. Recent finalists introduced adaptive‑sports programs for disabled children, teen clinical rotations, child‑led playground design, and student navigators for food‑insecure patients. CEOs...
AHA Podcast: AI and the Future of Staffing
The American Hospital Association’s latest podcast explores how artificial intelligence is reshaping staffing in health care. Experts discuss AI‑driven workforce analytics, predictive scheduling, and talent acquisition tools that promise to reduce turnover and improve patient outcomes. The conversation also highlights...
AHA Celebrates Patient Safety Awareness Week
The American Hospital Association marked Patient Safety Awareness Week (March 8‑14) by highlighting initiatives from leading health systems. Executives from CommonSpirit Health, Hartford HealthCare, and Henry Ford Health detailed programs, technology, and virtual nursing models aimed at reducing errors and improving outcomes....
SAMHSA Announces Mental Health, Suicide Prevention Grants
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) announced on March 6 that it will award $69.1 million in grants for mental‑health and suicide‑prevention programs. The funding is split among three initiatives: $43 million for the Children’s Mental Health Initiative targeting youth...
Florida District Court Rules Leapfrog Used Deceptive Practices for Hospital Safety Rating System
A Florida district court concluded that Leapfrog Group employed deceptive practices in its hospital safety rating system, finding the organization misrepresented how scores were calculated. The ruling highlighted that several hospitals received inflated safety grades based on opaque criteria. Leapfrog...
CMS Notifies States of Options for Transitioning to 6-Month Medicaid Renewals
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released guidance on March 6 directing states to transition to six‑month Medicaid redeterminations beginning in 2027, as mandated by last year’s budget reconciliation bill. States have two implementation pathways: one that allows them to...
Chair File: Hospital Teams Across the Country Are Advancing Patient Safety
Patient Safety Awareness Week (March 8‑14) highlights the critical role of teamwork in protecting patients from preventable harm. The American Hospital Association’s Patient Safety Initiative, backed by Vizient data, supplies hospitals with benchmarking tools and peer‑learning resources. Highlighted programs—UConn Health’s CHAMP...
Staying Cyber Alert and Cyber Ready
The American Hospital Association (AHA) is coordinating with the FBI and other federal agencies to monitor cyber threats amid heightened geopolitical tensions, including the Iran conflict. While no specific threats to U.S. health care have been confirmed, the AHA urges...
HHS, DOE Announce Nutrition Education Initiative for Medical Schools
On March 5, the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services and Education unveiled a joint initiative to embed nutrition education into medical school curricula beginning the 2024‑25 academic year. The program secured commitments from 53 medical schools to deliver at...
AHA Resources Available Ahead of National Hospital Week
On March 5, the American Hospital Association (AHA) unveiled a digital toolkit and a line of merchandise ahead of National Hospital Week, scheduled for May 10‑16. The toolkit provides social‑media graphics, sample messaging, and event ideas, while new apparel and gifts enable...
FDA Issues RFI on In-Home Opioid Disposal Products
The FDA issued a Request for Information (RFI) on March 5, 2026, asking for public input about new standards for in‑home opioid disposal products. The agency is evaluating whether opioid manufacturers should be required to supply disposal systems directly through dispensers....
CDC Finds Maternal Mortality Rate Dropped in 2024
The CDC reports that the U.S. maternal mortality rate fell to 17.9 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2024, a figure statistically indistinguishable from the 18.6 recorded in 2023. Black women experienced a mortality rate of 44.8 per 100,000, far...
Deadline March 31 to Apply for AHA Next Gen Fellowship
The American Hospital Association (AHA) announced that the application deadline for its Next Gen fellowship is March 31. The program targets emerging healthcare leaders, offering mentorship, networking, and strategic projects across member hospitals. Applicants must submit a brief proposal outlining a health‑system...
AHA Podcast: Advancing Community Health
The American Hospital Association released a multi‑segment podcast highlighting how hospitals are expanding beyond clinical walls to address social determinants of health. Leaders from Manatt Health, CommonSpirit Health, Inova Health System, and Owensboro Health discuss initiatives tackling food insecurity, workforce...
CMS Issues Toolkit on Behavioral Health Services for Children in Medicaid, CHIP
CMS has issued a new toolkit to help states improve behavioral health services for children covered by Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program. The guidance highlights early screening and intervention under EPSDT, care coordination, crisis response, telehealth, and workforce...
FBI Reminds of Potentially Malicious Activity by Iranian Cyber Actors
The FBI has issued a reminder to critical‑infrastructure operators to adopt mitigations outlined in a June 2025 fact sheet targeting Iranian‑affiliated cyber actors. These actors, motivated by ongoing geopolitical tensions, frequently exploit unpatched software, default passwords, and internet‑exposed operational technology (OT)...
CISA Report Updates Findings on RESURGE Malware Attacks
CISA issued an updated analysis of RESURGE malware on February 26, expanding the agency’s 2024 findings about the threat targeting Ivanti Connect Secure devices. The report reveals that RESURGE can persist silently on compromised VPN appliances and stay dormant until...
Plan to Attend 2026 AHA Annual Meeting
The American Hospital Association (AHA) is intensifying its policy engagement ahead of the 2026 AHA Annual Meeting, issuing recommendations on health data deregulation and technology interoperability. It submitted statements to multiple congressional hearings, addressing physician burnout, health‑care cost reduction, and...
AHA’s Hood Shares How Governance, Trust Can Shape Health Care Organizations
American Hospital Association’s Trustee Insights features Executive Vice President and COO Michelle Hood, who draws on four decades of leadership to discuss how strong governance, trust, and active board engagement can build resilient health‑care organizations. The piece underscores the need...
Report: Colorectal Cancer Rates Continue Declining Among Older Adults While Incidents Climb for Younger Adults
A new American Cancer Society report shows colorectal cancer rates keep falling among adults 65 and older, while incidence climbs sharply for younger adults. The surge in younger patients is driven by a rise in rectal cancer, now accounting for...
Chair File: Leadership Dialogue — Insights and Innovation in Rural Hospitals with Mark Boucot of Potomac Valley Hospital
Mark Boucot, CEO of Potomac Valley Hospital, a 25‑bed critical access facility in West Virginia, received the inaugural AHA Rural Hospital Excellence in Innovation Award. He highlighted the hospital’s low‑cost virtual ICU, built with simple tablets for remote intensivist support,...
AHA Shares Recommendations with ASTP/ONC on HTI-5 Proposed Rule
The American Hospital Association (AHA) submitted formal recommendations to the Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy and the Office of the National Coordinator (ASTP/ONC) regarding the Health Data, Technology and Interoperability (HTI‑5) proposed rule. The rule seeks to deregulate certification criteria,...
AHA Releases Agenda for New Healthier Together Conference
The American Hospital Association (AHA) unveiled the agenda for its first‑ever Healthier Together Conference, set for May 12‑14 in Dallas. The three‑day event will host more than 40 sessions delivered by nearly 200 speakers representing over 100 organizations from 20 states....
Preparing and Supporting the Next Generation of Health Care Leaders
The American Hospital Association’s Next Generation Leaders Fellowship has launched its 2025‑2026 cohort, selecting 34 emerging health‑care leaders from across the nation. The 12‑month program pairs each fellow with an executive mentor and culminates in a capstone project aimed at...
AHA, Epic Launching Initiative on EHR Tools Supporting Postpartum Hemorrhage Management
The American Hospital Association and Epic have launched the Safer Births Post‑Partum Hemorrhage Collaborative, a seven‑month program aimed at cutting postpartum hemorrhage rates. The initiative combines monthly expert‑led webinars, peer‑to‑peer forums, and dedicated office‑hours for hands‑on EHR guidance. Participants gain...
CMS Announces Actions Addressing Fraud
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a Request for Information on a prospective rule called Comprehensive Regulations to Uncover Suspicious Healthcare (CRUSH), opening a 30‑day comment period after its Feb. 27 Federal Register publication. Simultaneously, CMS announced a...
AHA Urges DOE to Broaden Proposed Update to Definition of ‘Professional Degree’
The American Hospital Association (AHA) submitted comments on the Department of Education’s proposed rule that redefines “graduate student” and “professional student” for federal loan eligibility. The rule limits the new definition of a professional degree to 11 fields, granting up...
Study: Nearly 6 in 10 Women Projected to Have Cardiovascular Disease by 2050
A new American Heart Association study released Feb. 25 projects that 60% of U.S. women will develop cardiovascular disease by 2050. The analysis shows rising rates of heart disease, heart failure, atrial fibrillation and stroke, driven by higher prevalence of...
Hawaii District Court Upholds State 340B Contract Pharmacy Law
A Hawaii district court has upheld the state’s 340B contract‑pharmacy law, ruling that it is not preempted by federal regulations. The decision aligns with recent rulings in Minnesota and Louisiana that support state authority over 340B contract arrangements. The law...
Measles Outbreak Grows to 979 Cases in South Carolina
The South Carolina Department of Public Health announced that the measles outbreak has climbed to 979 confirmed cases, surpassing 900 for the first time in decades. The majority of infections are among unvaccinated individuals, with more than 850 cases lacking...
AHA Sends Letter Supporting FTC Chairman’s Position on Bringing Merger Challenges to Federal Court
The American Hospital Association (AHA) praised FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson’s call to shift merger challenges from the agency’s in‑house adjudicatory process to federal Article III courts. The AHA argues that court litigation would lend greater credibility to the FTC’s antitrust...
CBO Projects Hospital Insurance Trust Fund to Be Solvent Until 2040
The Congressional Budget Office now projects that the Medicare Hospital Insurance Trust Fund will remain solvent through 2040, pushing the solvency horizon 12 years farther than its 2025 estimate. The projection reflects lower-than-expected payroll‑tax collections, diminished interest earnings, and reduced...
AHA Urges Congress to Support Physicians, Access to Care in Statement for House Subcommittee Hearing
The American Hospital Association (AHA) urged Congress to expand Medicare‑funded residency slots by 14,000 over the next seven years and to modify visa rules so foreign‑trained physicians can serve in underserved areas without a mandatory home‑country return. It also called...
AHA Comments to CMS on GLOBE Payment Model
The American Hospital Association (AHA) submitted comments to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on the proposed Global Benchmark for Efficient Drug Pricing (GLOBE) model, a mandatory Medicare Part B payment framework that would apply most‑favored‑nation pricing to select drugs...
AHA Podcast: Rebuilding Georgia’s Rural Pediatric Pipeline — Part One
The American Hospital Association’s podcast episode "Rebuilding Georgia’s Rural Pediatric Pipeline — Part One" examines the acute shortage of pediatric specialists in Georgia’s underserved counties and outlines strategies to attract and retain providers. It highlights federal initiatives such as the...
How Hospitals and Area Agencies on Aging Are Collaborating to Advance Social Connection
Hospitals and Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) are launching joint programs to combat social isolation among older adults, a risk heightened by the fact that one‑fifth of Americans 50+ live alone. The collaborations leverage community health workers, technology platforms, and...
CDC Report Highlights Low Use of COVID-19 Antivirals Among People 65 and Older
The CDC’s February 19 MMWR report shows that only a minority of Americans aged 65 and older received FDA‑approved COVID‑19 antiviral prescriptions in recent months. From June 2023 through September 2025, antiviral use was 16‑23% during periods of low community transmission and rose...
Continuing Our Efforts to Address Violence
The American Hospital Association (AHA) is intensifying its fight against violence in health‑care settings by releasing a joint guide with the FBI on behavioral threat assessment and management (BTAM). The guide provides evidence‑based strategies, training recommendations, and case studies from...
NSA Issues Guidelines on Zero Trust Architecture
The National Security Agency has issued a two‑phase Zero Trust Implementation Guidelines to help organizations adopt zero‑trust architecture in line with Department of Defense standards. The guidance details specific activities and requirements, acknowledging that implementation can be resource‑intensive and costly....
ASPR Announces Investment to Increase Domestic Production of Essential Drugs
The Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) announced its first Defense Production Act Title III investment to boost U.S. manufacturing of essential drugs. The funding targets the chronic shortage of oseltamivir, the antiviral known as Tamiflu, by supporting domestic production...
Study Finds Nearly 3 Million MA Beneficiaries Forced to Find Alternative Coverage for 2026
A JAMA study released Feb 18 reveals that 10 % of Medicare Advantage (MA) beneficiaries—about 2.9 million people—must secure alternative coverage for 2026 as plans exit the market, up from 6.9 % in 2025. The displaced enrollees are disproportionately in preferred‑provider‑organization, non‑special‑needs, small‑carrier, and...
Hospitals and Area Agencies on Aging Work Together to Advance Social Connection
One‑fifth of Americans aged 50+ live alone, raising isolation‑related health risks. Hospitals and Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) are increasingly partnering to screen for loneliness and deliver social‑connection programs, with 98% of AAAs and nearly 80% of hospitals now active...
South Carolina Measles Outbreak at 950 Cases
South Carolina’s measles outbreak has surged to 933 confirmed cases as of Feb 10, according to the state Department of Public Health. Unvaccinated individuals account for 859 of those infections, underscoring a vaccination gap. The outbreak follows a steady climb from...
HHS Releases RFI on New 340B Rebate Model
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued a request for information on a proposed 340B rebate model pilot, inviting comments through March 19. The Health Resources and Services Administration’s Office of Pharmacy Affairs will use stakeholder feedback to decide...
District Court Vacates FTC Changes to Premerger Notification Rules
On February 12, a U.S. District Court in Texas vacated the Federal Trade Commission’s final rule that altered pre‑merger notification requirements under the Hart‑Scott‑Rodino Act. The rule had expanded the HSR filing form and imposed additional reporting obligations on merging firms....
Lawmakers Urge DHS to Exempt Health Care Workers From H-1B Visa Fee in AHA-Supported Letter
A bipartisan group of 100 lawmakers, led by Reps. Yvette Clarke and Michael Lawler, sent a letter to the Department of Homeland Security urging an exemption from the $100,000 H‑1B filing fee for health‑care workers. The request is backed by...
