Health Care Advocate: Dec. 19, 2024

Table of Contents THA Finds Likely Error on Undocumented Immigrant Cost Form THA has contacted the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to resolve a potential error on the state’s form for hospitals to report data tied to caring for undocumented immigrants, released in connection with the executive order Gov. Greg Abbott issued last August. The form is now…

Health Care Advocate: Dec. 12, 2024

Table of Contents THA’s Final 2024 Trip to D.C. Stresses Vital End-of-Year Action With an end-of-year clock ticking to stop Medicaid Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) cuts and continue several federal programs beneficial to hospitals, THA advocacy staff members went to Washington, D.C., last week to meet with members of the Texas congressional delegation. Lawmakers there are working to fund the…

Health Care Advocate: Dec. 5, 2024

Table of Contents Abbott, THA Meet on Key Hospital Issues THA staff and member representatives sat down this week with Gov. Greg Abbott ahead of the upcoming 89th session of the Texas Legislature. The meeting centered on the issues that will matter most to hospitals during the 2025 session, including supplemental payment programs and hospital charity care policies. Governor Abbott…

Health Care Advocate: Nov. 21, 2024

Table of Contents First U.S. Case of Clade I Mpox Diagnosed In an advisory Monday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced the diagnosis of the first United States case of clade I mpox. The patient was diagnosed on Nov. 15 in San Mateo County, California, after seeking medical care for symptoms consistent with clade I mpox following…

Health Care Advocate: Nov. 14, 2024

Table of Contents Baxter Restarts Second IV Line, Accounting for About 50% of Production In recent updates on the temporary closure of its IV solutions facility in North Carolina due to Hurricane Helene, Baxter International stated that it has restarted a second solution-manufacturing line this week, and that it expects “100% allocation” on several of its product codes before the…

Health Care Advocate: Nov. 7, 2024

Table of Contents Republicans Roll in Key State and Federal Races From the return of former President Donald Trump to the White House to Texas Republicans increasing their majority in the state Legislature, Tuesday’s election illuminated part of the path Texas hospitals will navigate in pursuing their state and federal policy priorities in 2025. As of Wednesday, according to the…

Health Care Advocate: Oct. 24, 2024

Table of Contents HHS Update: More IV Fluid Now Available Post-Hurricane The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) provided updates last Friday regarding the ongoing supply disruption of intravenous (IV) and peritoneal (PD) fluids due to Hurricane Helene damage at Baxter International’s North Carolina facility. In a release, HHS revealed that ongoing steps to increase access and supply…

Health Care Advocate: Oct. 17, 2024

Table of Contents CDC Issues Health Advisory on IV Solutions Supply The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a health advisory Saturday regarding the peritoneal dialysis and intravenous solutions supply disruption to Baxter International’s Marion, NC, facility caused by Hurricane Helene. The advisory recommends that health care providers, facility administrators and pharmacists immediately assess their supply, as well…

Health Care Advocate: Oct. 10, 2024

Table of Contents BCBSTX/Aetna Anesthesia Policy Likely Detrimental, THA Tells TDI Recent changes to anesthesia payment policies for Aetna and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) will likely increase barriers to care and weaken existing coverage, THA wrote in a letter to the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI). The letter from THA, the Texas Medical Association and the Texas…

Health Care Advocate: Oct. 3, 2024

Table of Contents After THA Advocacy, Johnson & Johnson Drops 340B Drug Rebate Plan Following strong opposition from THA, Texas hospitals and the American Hospital Association, drugmaker Johnson & Johnson backed off a plan to introduce a rebate scheme for certain safety-net hospitals in the 340B Drug Pricing Program, which requires Medicaid-participating pharmaceutical companies to sell outpatient drugs at a…