News Releases

The Center’s Top 5 Most Popular News Stories of 2022

From policy updates to pandemic news to industry developments, the Weekly Wrap Up this year covered a broad spectrum of content. What were our five most popular stories? Let’s take a walk down memory lane. Based on reader engagement, they were:

1. AHA Report: Hospital Expenses Up 11%, Operating Margins Down 3.8% During Pandemic

The American Hospital Association’s (AHA) report highlighted the impact of COVID-19 on hospitals, including a decrease of 100,000 in hospital employment nationwide, an increase of more than 28% in the median hospital drug expenses and an increase of 15.9% in hospital supply expenses. The report also called for Congress to extend Medicare sequester relief, allocate additional funds to the Provider Relief Fund and enact flexible repayment terms for Medicare accelerated and advance payments. 

2. CMS Data Underestimates Hospital Labor Spending

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid’s (CMS) low estimates in hospital labor spending when making adjustments for the 2022 fiscal year resulted in hospitals only receiving a 2.4% rate increase compared to a 6.5% increase in hospital labor rates. This difference is considerable as labor costs account for nearly 68% of hospital costs in the CMS’ market basket calculation used to adjust hospital payments.

3. Cuyahoga County Diversion Center Reaches One Year, 530+ Calls

Created to help individuals who are exhibiting signs and symptoms of a mental illness or addiction, the Diversion Center initially received calls exclusively from law enforcement. Expanding in the fall of 2021 to include referrals from fire and emergency services and family members and individuals in need of and wanting care for a mental illness or substance use disorder, the center saw a 212% increase in calls in November and December over the prior months.

4. Opioid Consortium Submits Comments on CDC Proposed Guidelines

The comments by Brian Lane, president & CEO of The Center for Health Affairs, and Joan Papp, MD, chair of the Northeast Ohio Hospital Opioid Consortium and director of The MetroHealth System’s Office of Opioid Safety, expressed support for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s proposed revisions to guidelines on prescribing opioids for chronic pain.

5. AHA, others urge HHS to continue public health emergency

The AHA and other national health care organizations in May 2022 urged Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra to maintain the public health emergency (PHE) until it’s clear that the global pandemic has waned and the capabilities of the PHE are no longer needed. Benefits of the PHE include allowing the Food and Drug Administration to expedite emergency use authorizations for vaccines, tests and treatments, and helping patients continue to rely on affordable coverage options.

And that’s a wrap! The team at The Center and the Weekly Wrap Up look forward to serving up pertinent and insightful content to readers in 2023. See you then.