Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIH), tested positive for the coronavirus on Wednesday, in today's bite-sized hospital and health industry news from the District of Columbia, Maryland, and New Jersey.

• District of Columbia: NIH on Wednesday announced that Fauci tested positive for the coronavirus after taking a rapid antigen test. Fauci, who is fully vaccinated and has received two booster shots, is currently experiencing mild symptoms. According to NIH, Fauci will adhere to CDC guidelines and "medical advice from his physician," and will not return to work until he tests negative. He has not had any recent close contact with President Joe Biden or any other senior government officials. Over the course of the Covid-19 pandemic, Fauci has exercised caution and opted out of certain events, including the White House Correspondents' Dinner in April, after weighing his own personal risk. "Each of us, in our own personal way, has to make an assessment of what risk you're willing to accept about getting infected," Fauci told CNN. "In general, the risk is low, but I made a personal assessment. I'm 81 years old, and if I get infected, I have a much higher risk." (Fiore, MedPage Today, 6/15; Johnson, Associated Press, 6/15; Gumbrecht/Christensen, CNN, 6/15)

• Maryland: CMS recently finalized the inpatient procedure code set for fiscal year (FY) 2023, along with its accompanying guidelines. The FY 2023 ICD-10-PCS procedure code update includes 331 new inpatient procedure codes that will go into effect for discharges that occur between Oct. 1, 2022 and Sept. 30, 2023. The new procedure codes include tabular updates for heart surgeries and digestive operations that are performed using laser interstitial thermal therapy. In addition to the code update, CMS released the ICD-10-PCS Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting, which include new guidelines for reporting procedures. (Norris, HealthLeaders Media, 6/8)

• New Jersey: RWJBarnabas Health (RWJ) on Tuesday called off a proposed merger with St. Peter's Healthcare System (SPHCS) less than two weeks after the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) sued to block the transaction. According to RWJ, the health systems mutually agreed to end the proposed merger after "considerable deliberation" over the FTC's suit. "We are disappointed in the termination of the proposed transaction, which we believe would have transformed quality, increased access and decreased the overall cost of care for the people of this State through the creation of a premier academic medical center," said Barry Ostrowsky, CEO of RWJ. "Despite the loss of this opportunity, RWJBarnabas Health remains resolute in its commitment to serve the people of New Jersey – especially those who reside in our most vulnerable, chronically underserved communities – and shall continue to do so." (Herman, STAT News, 6/14; Kaufman, Crain's/Modern Healthcare, 6/14)