Pfizer and BioNTech release promising data on a three-dose COVID-19 vaccine for children six months to younger than 5; CDC expands booster shot eligibility to include everyone 5 years old and older.

The Department of Health and Human Services will distribute $19.2 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds to help train primary care residents to provide quality care to diverse populations and communities, particularly in underserved and rural areas.

In separate bipartisan letters, lawmakers called on the Biden administration to help mitigate dire hospital workforce shortages, particularly among nurses, and protect the 340B Drug Pricing Program from harmful drug manufacturer actions.

HHS awarded $103 million to improve health care worker retention by reducing staff burnout and promoting mental wellness. Several essential hospitals were among the awardees, including the University of New Mexico, Virginia Commonwealth University, and the University of Utah.

The association asked that CMS provide additional time for hospitals to comply with the requirements, especially given the uncertain outcome of pending litigation regarding the administration's vaccine mandate.

The Department of Health and Human Services announced a $1.5 billion investment to help grow and diversify the nation's health care workforce through loan repayment and scholarship programs.

The House voted 220–213 to pass the $1.75 trillion Build Back Better Act. It contains essential hospital priorities related to Medicaid, maternal health, and the health care workforce but also includes harmful cuts to Medicaid disproportionate share hospital and uncompensated care pool payments.

The plan — required by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act — focuses on increasing the health workforce in rural and underserved areas and better preparing for the health care needs of the future. HHS will issue a report to Congress on implementation.

In a letter to congressional leaders, America's Essential Hospitals advocates for strengthening the health care workforce in the wake of COVID-19, including through more funding in public health emergencies, prioritized visas for foreign clinicians, and increased graduate medical education slots.

Essential hospitals continue to experience increased costs and fewer resources, including staffing, due to the pandemic. We call on Congress to address various priorities to ensure our members remain able to carry out their mission to serve people who face social and financial barriers to care.

A new analysis finds annual clinical labor costs in the emergency department and intensive care unit and among nursing staff increased by $24 billion due to the COVID-19 pandemic, translating to about $17 million in additional expenses for the average 500-bed facility.

HRSA announced $103 million in American Rescue Plan funding over three years to help reduce burnout and promote mental health among the health care workforce.

The emergency temporary standard aims to protect those working in health care settings where suspected or confirmed COVID-19 patients are treated.

In a new HHS Office of Inspector General report, hospitals highlight challenges associated with the public health emergency — including barriers to care delivery and vaccination, staff burnout, supply shortages, and declining revenue — that have strained the nation's health care delivery system.

Essential hospitals rely heavily on a patchwork of federal financial support and resources to meet their mission. Congress must bolster the individual components that form the fabric of the health care safety net.

The proclamation pauses the issuance of new non-immigrant employment-based visas until Dec. 31, 2020. The suspension excludes individuals whose entry is deemed in the national interest, including those providing care to hospitalized COVID-19 patients or conducting research on the pandemic.

The Senate returns to Washington this week, with the House expected to return May 11. Congressional hearings this week will focus on COVID-19 response efforts, including testing. Meanwhile, several association webinars will focus on health care workforce issues related to the pandemic.

To ensure essential hospitals have proper resources to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, America's Essential Hospitals asked the Department of Labor to clarify the emergency exception under the Fair Labor Standards Act and the 500-employee threshold of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services issued various waivers to increase hospital capacity, expand the health care workforce, eliminate certain paperwork requirements, and further promote telehealth.

House Democratic leaders are developing a fourth COVID-19 supplemental funding bill on the heels of a $2 trillion aid package the president signed last week. This fourth legislative package could include measures to enhance protections for health care workers.

The new waivers and flexible options are designed to increase hospital capacity, rapidly expand the health care workforce, temporarily eliminate certain paperwork requirements, and promote telehealth in Medicare.

Twelve spending bills must advance through Congress and be signed by the president by Nov. 21 to fully fund the federal government for fiscal year 2020.

A House vote on the Lower Drug Costs Now Act of 2019, scheduled for this week, has been postponed to allot more time for the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to score the bill.

Senate Democrats sharply questioned the repeated delays of a final rule on drug ceiling prices and manufacturer civil monetary penalties; The House continues to focus on passing an opioid package.

House leadership remains focused on passing a bipartisan opioid-related legislative package by Memorial Day, but recently indicated a June vote might be more likely.

The new directive applies to Chad, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Syria, Venezuela, and Yemen, but the specifics vary by country.

Researchers from George Washington University and The Commonwealth Fund found the Better Care Reconciliation Act of 2017 could cause an estimated 1.45 million jobs to disappear by 2026.

The webinar on June 28 will focus on the Medicaid Innovation Accelerator Program's Reducing Substance Use Disorders program area.

The blueprint also shifts CDC funding to a $500 million block grant and creates a Federal Emergency Response Fund for public health outbreaks, like Zika.

America’s Essential Hospitals and 57 other groups say restricting admission of certain foreign nationals and refugees will disrupt care, health education, and research.

The proposed revisions would update requirements on patient safety and quality improvement, physician well-being, team-based care & resident work hours.

These long-term HCBS services and supports are critical to ensure people can remain in their homes and communities as they receive treatment.

The letter was signed by America's Essential Hospital and 20 other national organizations.

The rule, effective Dec. 1, more than doubles the salary threshold for the Fair Labor Standards Act white collar exemption. The Department of Labor will automatically update the salary level threshold every three years.

If made final, U.S. Department of Labor rule would shift as many as 4.7 million workers nationally from exempt to nonexempt status.