Editor's Note The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on August 11 updated its guidelines for COVID-19. The new recommendations focus on helping people better understand their risks, how to protect themselves and others, what actions to take if exposed, and what actions to take if they test positive…
Editor's Note The Joint Commission on August 10 announced that it will collaborate with the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) to offer Advanced Certification in Perinatal Care (ACPC) to accredited and nonaccredited hospitals and critical access hospitals with perinatal care programs, beginning January 1, 2023. The Joint Commission…
Editor's Note A new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Vital Signs report finds that a large number of people diagnosed with hepatitis C are not receiving treatment, Heathcare Purchasing News July 10 reports. Although hepatitis C is curable with oral medication, if left untreated, it can cause liver…
Editor's Note On Wednesday August 10, the Department of Health and Human Services released the Environmental Justice Index (EJI), a tool used to identify health risks from pollution and other environmental hazards, the American Hospital Association July 10 reports. The EJI is the first national, geographic-driven tool utilized to measure…
Editor's Note On Tuesday, August 9, US officials announced they will modify dosing instructions for the Jynneos monkeypox vaccine to stretch the supply, US News & World Report July 10 reports. Currently, there are almost 9,500 known cases in the US, predominantly among gay and bisexual men. According to the…
Editor's Note The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on August 9 identified the recall by Haimen Shengbang Laboratory Equipment Co Ltd of its Viral Transport Media Containers as Class I, the most serious. The recall was initiated because the products were distributed in the US without authorization, clearance, or approval…
Editor's Note On Sunday, August 7, the Senate passed a spending bill allocating billions of dollars to climate reform and healthcare focused programs, including provisions that give “Medicare the power to negotiate drug prices for a small subset of drugs” and extend “enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies” for 3 years,…
Editor's Note The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on August 1 identified the recall by North American Diagnostics of its Oral Rapid SARS-CoV-2 Rapid Antigen Test Kits as Class I, the most serious. These tests are being recalled because they were distributed in the US without authorization, clearance, or approval…
Editor's Note The number of Americans without health insurance coverage has hit a record low of 8% this year, exceeding the previous low of 9% in 2016, the Department of Health and Human Services July 3 reports. Since 2020, 5.2 million people have gained coverage, including 4 million adults and…
Editor's Note In this study, researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, calculate the chances of catching COVID-19 on a US plane flight. The study estimates that from June 2020 through February 2021, the probability of getting COVID-19 on a totally full flight lasting 2 hours was more than…