CMS released its annual proposed rule on Affordable Care Act marketplace reforms, known as the notice of benefit and payment parameters, in today's bite-sized hospital and health industry news from Maryland, New York, and Tennessee.

• Maryland: CMS released a proposed rule on Affordable Care Act marketplace reforms, known as the notice of benefit and payment parameters. In the new proposal, the Biden administration aims to reverse a Trump-era policy that removed provisions related to sexual orientation and gender identity from CMS' non-discrimination regulations. Under the provision, exchanges, insurance issuers, agents, and brokers would be prohibited from discriminating against consumers because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. In addition, CMS wants to require standardized plan offerings and maintain user fees from the 2022 plan year in 2023. CMS proposed several changes to the risk adjustment model in 2023, suggesting that insurers should collect and report additional data to CMS' enrollee data servers. The agency will accept comments on the proposed rule through Jan. 27. (Goldman, Modern Healthcare, 1/3)

• New York: North Shore University Hospital appointed David Hirschwerk as its medical director, effective Jan. 3. He succeeds Michael Gitman, who has been promoted to executive director of Long Island Jewish Medical Center. Hirschwerk, who received the 2021 Goldstein Physician Executive Leadership Award at Northwell Health, most recently served as executive vice chair of the department of medicine at North Shore University Hospital and Long Island Jewish. (Jensik, Becker's Hospital Review, 1/3)

• Tennessee: HCA Healthcare announced that David McKnight was appointed CEO of Johnston-Willis Hospital, effective Dec. 27. He succeeded Zach McCluskey, who was appointed CEO of Fort Walton Beach Medical Center in HCA's North Florida Division. McKnight, who most recently served as CEO of Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center, has been with the health system for 11 years. (Jensik, Becker's Hospital Review, 12/29/21)