HCA Healthcare and the American Heart Association (AHA) launched a new initiative to "prevent, treat and beat stroke," in today's bite-sized hospital and health industry news from Illinois, Maryland, and Texas/Tennessee.

• Illinois: Northwestern Memorial HealthCare (NM) CEO Dean Harrison will step down at the end of the year. Harrison, who has been CEO since 2006, will become the health system's executive chairman effective Jan. 1, 2023. Howard Chrisman, who is currently president and COO for Northwestern Memorial HealthCare, will replace Harrison as CEO. "In our new roles, Dr. Chrisman will lead the health system while I support Dr. Chrisman to advance NM's strategic goals and key health system priorities," Harrison wrote in an internal memo. (Davis, Modern Healthcare/Crain's, 10/14; Gamble, Becker's Hospital Review, 10/17)

• Maryland: Medicare open enrollment for 2023 began on Oct. 15 and runs through Dec. 7. During the annual open enrollment period, Medicare beneficiaries can enroll, review, and change their coverage options. CMS projects Medicare Advantage average monthly premiums to fall by $1.52 in 2023 to $18, while average Medicare Part D prescription drug plans will fall by $0.58 to $31.50. (American Hospital Association, 10/17)

• Texas/Tennessee: HCA Healthcare and HCA Healthcare Foundation have donated $15 million to the American Heart Association for its new national stroke initiative, Getting to the Heart of Stroke. The effort focuses on "preventing, treating and beating stroke by providing consumer and health care professional education nationwide, deepening collaboration between neurology and cardiology and equitably empowering communities about stroke risk to improve health outcomes." AHA staff and volunteer experts will work to educate 15 select communities across seven states on stroke risk factor awareness and more "through the lens of equitable health for all." (American Heart Association press release, 10/17; Taylor, Becker's Hospital Review, 10/18)