CDC and FDA recommend pausing Janssen COVID-19 vaccine administration after six U.S. reports of blood clots; HHS expands the Health Center Vaccine Program.

A new notice encourages states to improve health outcomes, reduce disparities, and lower costs within Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program. It describes how states might address social determinants of health using flexibility available under current law.

CDC releases a COVID-19 health equity strategy, and FDA shares options for screening substitutions amid supply issues.

The Department of Health and Human Services announced two distributions from the Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund, known as the Provider Relief Fund: $4.9 billion for skilled nursing facilities and $500 million for Indian Health Service providers.

A House letter calling for a delay of Medicaid disproportionate share hospital payment cuts has 178 bipartisan signatures; the deadline to sign is May 3. A House committee holds the first congressional hearing on the Medicare for All Act.

The association expressed concerns about two disparity methods developed to report readmission rates among patients with social risk factors; the deadline for comments has been extended to Dec. 14.

The plan is required by the 21st Century Cures Act and is meant to improve federal and state coordination around the enforcement of parity laws.

CMS projects that Medicare Advantage organization payment rates will increase by 0.25 percent in 2018.

The CMS Equity Plan aims to reduce disparities in health care over the next four years for populations including racial and ethnic minorities, sexual and gender minorities, people with disabilities, and people living in rural areas.

Despite improvements in health care access and quality, disparities in care persist. Learn about the challenges to reducing disparities and what essential hospital are doing to improve equity.

National impact assessment finds 95 percent of 119 studied quality measures improved during the 2006 to 2012 study period

Document, developed by association's policy advisory committee, demonstrates essential hospitals' commitment to and promotion of care equity, and supports risk adjustment for sociodemographic status in certain quality improvement measures

The opportunities come through two new comparative effectiveness research programs on improving health systems and addressing health and health care disparities. Letters of intent are due by Sept. 5.

NQF board adopts recommendation to assess sociodemographic risk adjustment of certain quality measures during a trial period.

America's Essential Hospitals supports NQF's recommendations to adjust some health care performance measures for sociodemographic factors.

NQF makes eight recommendations to enhance the ability of policymakers and consumers to make accurate conclusions about the quality of care and prevent unintended consequences, such as a worsening of care disparities. Members are encouraged to submit comments by April 16.

NQF recommends adjusting some health care performance measures to account for sociodemographic risk factors. Members are encouraged to submit comments on the draft recommendations by April 16.

Highlighted essential hospitals’ work to address health disparities, improve quality of care for all patients

Effort will seek to increase understanding of low-income and minority populations’ experiences with exchanges

Information gathered will inform rulemaking for civil rights provision of the Affordable Care Act

Analysis from the Kaiser Family Foundation Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured found that 6.4 million people will miss out on insurance coverage if the 21 states not intending to expand their Medicaid program and the six undecided states do not implement the Medicaid expansion.