CMS Requires Government, Most Private Plans to Cover COVID-19 Vaccines

CMS said Wednesday that "most private health plans" will be required to cover an approved COVID-19 vaccine and its administration with no cost-sharing from in-network and out-of-network providers once the shot is recommended by a CDC panel. This was mandated by Congress in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act passed in March. Medicare will also cover a future vaccine at no cost to beneficiaries and Medicaid will cover it with no cost sharing for most beneficiaries through the public health emergency.

HHS Prioritizing Health Data Access Through Smartphones in 5-Year Strategic Plan

Federal health IT officials outlined their top goals and priorities for the next five years with a big focus on pushing the industry to make more patients' health data accessible through smartphone apps. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) published Friday the final 2020-2025 Federal Health IT Strategic Plan. The plan is designed to align goals and help prioritize resources related to health IT and health data exchange across federal agencies. 

Northwestern to Deploy FDA-Cleared Deploy AI-Guided Cardiac Ultrasounds

Northwestern Memorial Hospital is the first hospital in the United States to purchase Caption Health’s artificial intelligence (AI) technology for ultrasound, Caption AI. The FDA cleared, AI-guided ultrasound system enables healthcare providers to acquire and interpret quality ultrasound images of the human heart, increasing access to timely and accurate cardiac assessments at the point of care

FBI, HHS Warn of 'Increased and Imminent' Cyber Threat to Hospitals

In their cybersecurity advisory, the agencies offer some detailed insights into the potential tactics that might be used by bad actors planning fresh incursions on the U.S. healthcare system as many hospitals are overrun with new COVID-19 patients. "CISA, FBI and HHS have credible information of an increased and imminent cybercrime threat to U.S. hospitals and healthcare providers," officials said. "Malicious cyber actors" may soon be planning to "infect systems with Ryuk ransomware for financial gain" on a scale not yet seen across the American healthcare system.