Category: Current Affairs

August 21 is National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day

August 21, 2025

August 21 is National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides a toolkit for sharing this year’s theme focused on hop and mental health, along with facts on fentanyl and life-saving resources with your communities.

Last week, the CDC released preliminary data showing an estimated 77,648 drug overdose deaths occurred in the 12 months ending in March 2025. This marks a 25 percent decrease compared to the same period ending in March 2024. In May last year CDC data showed that the percentage of people with drug use disorders was similar for rural and urban areas, but those living in rural areas at a greater risk of death from drug overdose than urban Americans.

Click Here for Facts on Fentanyl

Click Here for Life-Saving Resources

Click Here to read CDC report on drug use disorders

FDA Declares End to National IV Fluid Injection Shortage

August 18, 2025

FDA Declares End to National IV Fluid Injection Shortage

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) confirmed the nationwide shortage of sodium chloride 0.9% injection, or IV saline, has officially ended.

According to an August 8 statement for agency Commissioner Marty Makary, MD, the IV saline shortage, which has affected hospitals and clinics across the country, is no longer listed in the FDA’s Drug Shortage Database. The FDA credited increased manufacturing capacity and temporary importation efforts for stabilizing supply.

In addition, to help address the shortage, Dr. Makary said the agency worked alongside the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response and other industry manufacturers to restore supply levels. While the sodium chloride 0.9% injection is considered stable, the agency noted in the statement that other IV solutions remain in short supply.

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Whitepaper: What CNOs, CIOs Need to Ask Before Choosing a Scheduling System

August 15, 2025

Whitepaper: What CNOs, CIOs Need to Ask Before Choosing a Scheduling System

One nurse is juggling back-to-back shifts. Another is sent home early. Meanwhile, care coordination falters and tensions rise. These ripple effects often trace back to a hidden disruptor: a scheduling system that can’t keep pace with the demands of modern clinical operations.

This guide – built for CIOs, CFOs, CNOs, and procurement leaders – helps healthcare teams cut through the noise and confidently assess workforce scheduling tools that align with their unique challenges.

Inside, you’ll find structured worksheets, essential vendor vetting questions and a breakdown of must-have features, from mobile scheduling and float pool optimization to seamless system integration.

Use this Guide to:

  • Clarify your organization’s top scheduling priorities, including self-scheduling, shift swapping and OR/ER complexity,
  • Evaluate vendors side-by-side with a focus on functionality, interoperability and long-term scalability, and
  • Align stakeholders around RFP timelines, budget considerations and the metrics that matter.

Click Here to Download Whitepaper

2025 National Shortage Designation Update

August 12, 2025

2025 National Shortage Designation Update

Health Professional Shortage Areas, also known as HPSAs, can be geographic areas, populations, or facilities that have a shortage of primary, dental, or mental health care providers.

The designations are to determine eligibility for programs like the National Health Service Corps, Nurse Corps, and other programs; they’re also used by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and other Health & Human Services programs to determine where resources and support are needed.

HRSA’s Bureau of Health Workforce intends to update the designations and publish new HPSAs on September 23, 2025.

To Learn More:

HRSA Announces New 340B Rebate Model Pilot Program, Apply by September 2

August 12, 2025

HRSA Announces New 340B Rebate Model Pilot Program, Apply by September 2

On July 31, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) announced a 340B Rebate Model Pilot Program for drugs on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Selected Drug List for the year 2026 from qualifying manufacturers meeting specific criteria.

The Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA’s)Office of Pharmacy Affairs, which currently oversees the 340B Drug Pricing Program, is inviting selected drug manufacturers to apply for participation in the pilot program for a minimum of one year. HRSA is implementing the program to better understand the merits and shortcomings of the rebate model from the perspective of affected stakeholders, and to help shape future 340B rebate models that align with 340B statue and the Administration’s goals.

Organizations may submit Rebate Model Pilot plan and/or provide comments by September 2, 2025, by visiting the 340B Program Notice: Application Process for the 340B Rebate Model Pilot Program Federal Register Notice.

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HRSA Announces Application Process for the 340B Rebate Model Pilot Program and Request for Public Comment

August 5, 2025

HRSA Announces Application Process for the 340B Rebate Model Pilot Program and Request for Public Comment

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) recently announced the availability of a voluntary 340B Rebate Model Pilot Program for drugs on the CMS Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Selected Drug List for year 2026 from qualifying manufacturers meeting specific criteria.

HRSA is introducing this pilot program to test the rebate model on these drugs in a methodical and thoughtful approach to ensure a fair and transparent 340B rebate model process. HRSA is implementing this pilot to better understand the merits and shortcomings of the rebate model from the perspective of affected stakeholders, and to help shape any future 340B rebate models that align with the 340B statute and the Administration’s goals.

Click Here to Read Press Release and Learn More

CMS Seeks Comment – Proposal to Reimburse for Drug Administration Services Furnished in Excepted Off-Campus PBDs at a Physician-Equivalent-Rate, Comment by September 15

August 5, 2025

CMS Seeks Comment – Proposal to Reimburse for Drug Administration Services Furnished in Excepted Off-Campus PBDs at a Physician-Equivalent-Rate, Comment by September 15

Drug Administration includes the intravenous or intramuscular administration of a range of medicines. This proposal would not be budget neutral.

CMS estimates it would reduce OPPS spending by $280 million, with $210 million of the savings accruing to Medicare, and $70 million saved by Medicare beneficiaries in the form of reduced beneficiary coinsurance.

Comment by September 15.

Click Here to Learn More and Comment

Policy Update: CMS Proposes Updates to Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Payments for Calendar Year 2026, Comment by September 12

August 5, 2025

Policy Update: CMS Proposes Updates to Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Payments for Calendar Year 2026, Comment by September 12

This proposed rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), issued on July 16, 2025, seeks public comment on payment updates and policy changes to Medicare’s physician fee schedule payments and includes other proposals affecting Medicare beneficiaries.

Proposals include:

  • Removing the code and add-on payment for the Social Determinants of Health Risk Assessment,
  • Permanently adopting the definition of direct supervision that allows the physician or supervising practitioner to provide supervision through real-time audio and visual interactive telecommunications (excluding audio-only),
  • Creating optional add-on codes for Advanced Primary Care Management (ACPM) services that would provide behavioral health integration or psychiatric Collaborative Care Model (CoCM) services proposed modifications to the way that CMS will pay for skin substitutes,
  • A proposed negative 2.5 percent adjustment to certain non-time-based Relative Value Units (RVUs), and
  • A new mandatory alternative payment model, the Ambulatory Specialty Model.

The proposed rule also includes proposed updates applicable to Rural Health Clinics (RHCs), including:

  • Extending non-behavioral health telehealth flexibilities through December 31, 2026,
  • Requiring an in-person mental health service within 6 months prior to the mental-health telehealth visit and requiring an in-person mental health visit every 12-months while the patient is receiving services,
  • Requiring RHCs and FQHCs to report and bill the individual codes for BHI and CoCM rather than the current consolidated code.

Click Here to Learn More and Comment

Whitepaper: The Hidden Cost of Confusion: Using AI to Make Healthcare Bills Make Sense

August 5, 2025

Whitepaper: The Hidden Cost of Confusion: Using AI to Make Healthcare Bills Make Sense

As the cost of care increases, paying for it becomes more complicated – with many patients finding medical bills more confusing and stressful than the treatment itself.

This whitepaper, presented at Becker’s Hospital Review 15th Annual Meeting, dives into how health systems are leveraging AI to ease the burden of paying for care. From guiding patients through their bills to surfacing relevant benefits and resources, I tools are creating personalized affordability pathways.

Revenue cycle experts reveal how leading health systems are using this model to reduce costs, drive collections and reduce staff burnout.

You’ll Learn:

  • How one AI voice agent connects patients to personalized payment options before bad debt accrues,
  • What’s working to drive up digital payments and reduce support requests, and
  • The financial lift: 20% increase in collections + higher patient satisfaction.

Cost: Free

Click Here to Download Paper

Whitepaper: 3 Ways to Improve Cybersecurity Amid Healthcare’s Cyber Crisis

August 5, 2025

Whitepaper: 3 Ways to Improve Cybersecurity Amid Healthcare’s Cyber Crisis

Recently, a wave of cyberattacks forced healthcare executives to reckon with an uncomfortable truth: traditional cybersecurity strategies are no longer enough.

This report from Advisory Board shares how more than 10 experts – from provider organizations and digital health firms to consulting leaders – are redefining what cyber resilience means in an era of third-party interdependence.

It outlines a strategic shift from reactive defense to collaborative, systemwide resilience – and the practical steps leaders are taking to manage operational risk, strengthen contracts and reduce exposure across complex networks.

Download the report to learn:

  • Ways that health systems are reassessing third-party vendor contracts and performance metrics,
  • Tactics to improve communication with partners and regulators to contain risk, and
  • Examples of resilience-driven models that ensure continuity during cyber incidents.

Cost:  Free

Click Here to Download Paper