When a Safety-Net Hospital Closes
A year ago the Atlanta Medical Center, a safety-net hospital, closed its doors, overwhelmed by financial problems. In the year that followed, the burden on Grady Memorial Hospital, Atlanta’s only public hospital, grew considerably – especially for emergency behavioral care. [...]
Federal Health Policy Update for October 12
The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government for October 6-12. Some of the language used below is taken directly from government documents. No Surprises Act CMS has reopened the federal independent dispute resolution (IDR) portal [...]
Survey Looks at Work of Hospital Equity Officers
With more and more hospitals hiring equity officers to lead their efforts to address social determinants of health and the health care disparities that often result, a new survey examines the obstacles those health equity officials are encountering in their [...]
DEA Okays Continued Remote Prescribing of Controlled Substances
The federal Drug Enforcement Administration has extended the authority of qualified health care providers to prescribe controlled substances via telehealth through the end of 2024. This authorization originated as a temporary measure in response to the COVID-19 public health emergency [...]
Medicaid Unwinding Runs Into More Problems
When the COVID-19-era policy of continuous Medicaid eligibility came to an end and the process known as Medicaid unwinding began, policymakers expected significant numbers of people who lost their Medicaid eligibility to find new, affordable coverage in Affordable Care Act [...]
Federal Health Policy Update for October 5
The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government for September 29 to October 5. Some of the language used below is taken directly from government documents. Congress Last Saturday, Congress passed a 45-day continuing resolution (CR) [...]
Federal Health Policy Update for September 28
The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government for September 22-28. Some of the language used below is taken directly from government documents. ASH Advocacy In a message to members of the House of Representatives, ASH [...]
Federal Health Policy Update for September 21
The following is the latest health policy news from the federal government for September 15 - 21. Some of the language used below is taken directly from government documents. Congress With only nine days left in the current federal fiscal [...]
ASH Urges House to Reject Site-Neutral Medicare Outpatient Payments
Introducing site-neutral Medicare outpatient payments would jeopardize access to care in rural, inner-city, and other areas that community safety-net hospitals serve, so the Alliance of Safety-Net Hospitals has asked House members to reject a current proposal to introduce such payments. [...]
ASH Asks House Leaders to Withdraw Site-Neutral Payments Proposal for Safety-Net Hospitals
Site-neutral Medicare outpatient payments would hinder access to care in many medically underserved inner-city and rural communities, and for this reason, the Alliance of Safety-Net Hospitals has asked the chairs of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, the House Ways [...]
