/ en Fri, 25 Apr 2025 03:39:53 -0500 Thu, 24 Apr 25 15:59:59 -0500 /news/headline/2025-04-24-recall-issued-aspiration-system-qapel-medical The Food and Drug Administration has identified a Class I recall of Q’Apel Medical 072 Aspiration System after the company submitted three device event reports that included a tip detachment, a vessel rupture and a vasospasm. Thu, 24 Apr 2025 15:59:59 -0500 News Feed /news/headline/2025-04-24-cassidy-releases-report-calling-reforms-340b-program Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee Chairman Bill Cassidy, M.D., R-La., today released a report detailing findings from an investigation into how covered entities use and generate revenue from the 340B Drug Pricing Program. As part of his investigation, Cassidy requested information from hospitals, Federally Qualified Health Centers, contract pharmacies and drug manufacturers.  Cassidy said the “investigation underscores that there are transparency and oversight concerns that prevent 340B discounts from translating to better access or lower costs for patients,” and the report outlines potential reforms needed to improve the program to better serve patients.   In a statement shared with media, AHA President and CEO Rick Pollack said, “The AHA appreciates Senator Cassidy’s leadership on 340B issues. As his report correctly observes, the 340B program was created to help hospitals reach more eligible patients and provide more comprehensive services. Even this investigation — which the report recognizes was ‘limited in scope’ given the variety of 340B hospitals across the country — demonstrates that hospitals use 340B savings to provide financial assistance to low-income patients and to maintain programs that enhance patient services and access to care. In short, 340B is vital in advancing health in communities across the country.  “We look forward to reviewing the report in greater detail, discussing it with our 340B members, and working with Senator Cassidy and others to ensure that the 340B program continues to benefit patients and communities, especially those in rural and other medically underserved areas.” Thu, 24 Apr 2025 15:24:44 -0500 News Feed /news/headline/2025-04-24-study-finds-driving-covid-19-raises-crash-risk-25 A study published April 8 by the Public Library of Science’s Journal of Global Public Health found that driving while infected with COVID-19 raises the risk of an accident by 25%. The study analyzed public health and transportation data from seven states from 2020-2023. The results showed a significant association between acute COVID-19 infections and an increase in vehicle crashes. Thu, 24 Apr 2025 15:20:59 -0500 News Feed /news/headline/2025-04-23-application-window-closes-may-6-2026-aha-foster-g-mcgaw-prize The deadline for health delivery organizations to apply for the AHA’s 2026 Foster G. McGaw Prize is 1 p.m. ET May 6. The award honors organizations that demonstrate alignment between community health needs and co-designed programs. The honorees forge effective collaborations with a broad range of community organizations to improve access to care and address societal factors influencing health. The winning prize is $100,000 while finalists will be awarded $10,000. LEARN MOR Wed, 23 Apr 2025 15:18:57 -0500 News Feed /news/headline/2025-04-23-jama-study-finds-changing-default-prescription-length-can-possibly-reduce-pharmacy-trips-lower A JAMA Internal Medicine study published April 7 examined the effects of changing the default prescription lengths for statins, which are cholesterol-lowering medications, from 2022 to 2024. The study noted that higher rates of possession of such medications are often associated with a lower risk of death.Researchers made a default change for doctors in the electronic health record, making a 90-day supply the default prescription option instead of a 30-day supply. At the beginning of the study from July to November 2022, roughly 71 percent of the participating physicians prescribed 90-day supplies of statins. From November 2022 to January 2024, 91 percent of the doctors were ordering 90-day prescriptions instead of actively choosing the 30-day option. The study resulted in 7,200 fewer 30-day prescriptions, researchers said.“Having medication available is a necessary precondition for adherence, and longer prescription durations facilitate adherence by reducing the frequency with which patients must act to obtain medications,” the study notes. “Higher rates of medication possession for statins are associated with lower all-cause mortality, highlighting the potential clinical benefits of longer prescription duration.” Wed, 23 Apr 2025 15:16:30 -0500 News Feed /news/headline/2025-04-23-whooping-cough-cases-surpass-8000-nationwide There have been 8,064 reported cases of whooping cough in the U.S. so far this year, according to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. There were 3,835 cases at the same time in 2024. Wed, 23 Apr 2025 15:09:09 -0500 News Feed /news/headline/2025-04-23-cdc-us-birth-rate-1-2024 U.S. births grew 1% in 2024 to 3.6 million, according to preliminary data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The cesarean delivery rate slightly increased to 32.4% in 2024, from 32.3% in 2023. The 2024 preterm birth rate was 10.41%, unchanged from 2023. Wed, 23 Apr 2025 15:04:40 -0500 News Feed /news/headline/2025-04-22-aha-issues-support-legislation-strengthen-ltch-reimbursement The AHA voiced support for the Securing Access to Care for Seniors in Critical Condition Act (H.R.1924), legislation that would provide reimbursement for long-term care hospitals. In comments to the bill’s sponsors, Reps. Kevin Hern, R-Okla., and Brendan Boyle, D-Pa., the AHA highlighted declines in the number of LTCH standard-rate cases, providers and reimbursement. Smaller, yet sicker patient populations have also become a challenge for LTCHs.   Tue, 22 Apr 2025 14:58:52 -0500 News Feed /news/headline/2025-04-22-acog-releases-new-guidance-prenatal-care-delivery The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists April 17 released guidance recommending a new approach to prenatal care delivery. The guidance calls for a potential reduction in the standard 12 to 14 in-person visits for pregnant individuals — traditionally scheduled regardless of risk factors — for a more personalized approach. Among other recommendations, the guidance calls for clinicians to screen patients for social drivers of health before 10 weeks of pregnancy; coordinate health and community assistance for individuals with unmet social needs; and offer telehealth services when necessary.  Tue, 22 Apr 2025 14:54:36 -0500 News Feed /news/headline/2025-04-22-study-finds-increase-drug-resistant-baumannii-infections A study published April 17 by BMC Infectious Diseases found increased incidents of Acinetobacter baumannii and carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii infections between 2018 to 2022. A. baumannii is a pathogen considered to be a major cause of health care-associated infections. The study found that A. baumannii cases per 100 hospitalization encounters grew from 1.15 in 2018 to 1.25 in 2021, before dropping to 1.11 in 2022. The CRAB incidence rate grew from 0.39 cases per 100 hospitalization encounters in 2018 to 0.53 cases in 2022.  Researchers said the pathogen’s ability to survive in hospitals and in patients not showing any symptoms for extended periods of time contributed to increased outbreaks.  Tue, 22 Apr 2025 14:50:03 -0500 News Feed /news/headline/2025-04-21-aha-podcast-quality-101-how-university-utah-health-strengthens-board-culture-better-patient-outcomes University of Utah Health's Kencee Graves, M.D., hospitalist and palliative medicine physician, and David Colling, vice chair of the health system’s Community Board of Directors, discuss how a “Quality 101” approach helped bridge knowledge gaps between clinicians and board members and why making this transformation interactive leads to stronger strategic alignment and better patient outcomes. LISTEN NOW    Mon, 21 Apr 2025 15:19:08 -0500 News Feed /news/headline/2025-04-21-fda-issues-alerts-certain-catheters-produced-bd-conavi The Food and Drug Administration has issued alerts for issues with certain catheters made by BD and Conavi. BD identified an increase in material fatigue leaks associated with certain PowerPICC Intravascular Catheters. The FDA sent a letter to affected consumers recommending unused catheters be removed from where they are used or sold, and in-use catheters have updated instructions.Conavi reported an incident where the sheath of its Novasight Hybrid catheter detached during use. Conavi sent all affected providers a recall notice recommending they return the product to the company. Mon, 21 Apr 2025 15:14:20 -0500 News Feed /news/headline/2025-04-21-report-finds-steady-decline-cancer-death-rates Overall cancer death rates declined steadily among both men and women from 2018 through 2022, according to the National Institutes of Health's latest annual report. Cancer death rates decreased an average of 1.7% per year for men and 1.3% per year for women. Progress in reducing cancer deaths overall is mostly due to declines in both incidence and death rates for lung cancer and other smoking-related cancers, but cancers associated with obesity have been increasing, researchers noted. Mon, 21 Apr 2025 15:12:00 -0500 News Feed /news/headline/2025-04-21-aha-files-briefs-defense-louisianas-340b-contract-pharmacy-law The AHA April 18 filed friend-of-the-court briefs in three cases in support of Louisiana's 340B contract pharmacy law that prohibits drug companies from denying hospitals the same 340B discounts for drugs dispensed at community pharmacies that would be provided via in-house pharmacies. The briefs, filed in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit, challenge claims by PhRMA, AbbVie and AstraZeneca that the federal law that created the 340B program preempts the state law.The filings are the latest AHA has made in similar cases in multiple states. The AHA also filed friend-of-the-court briefs regarding the Louisiana cases in February 2024 and December 2023.The Louisiana Hospital Association, Rural Hospital Coalition, 340B Health and the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists joined AHA in each of the latest filings. Mon, 21 Apr 2025 15:09:28 -0500 News Feed /news/headline/2025-04-18-study-finds-connection-between-hearing-loss-and-dementia A study published April 17 by JAMA Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery found that up to 32% of dementia cases from 2011-2019 could be attributed to hearing loss confirmed through testing. Self-reported hearing loss was not associated with higher dementia risk. Fri, 18 Apr 2025 13:14:34 -0500 News Feed