The American Hospital Association (AHA) has elected eight new members to its Board of Trustees for 2024, in today's bite-sized hospital and health industry news from Illinois, Maryland, and New York.

• Illinois: AHA on Tuesday elected eight new members to its Board of Trustees. The members will begin three-year terms starting Jan. 1. The incoming members include: Kurt Barwis, president and CEO of Bristol Health; Norvell Coots, president and CEO of Holy Cross Health and the Maryland region of Trinity Health; Steven Diaz, CMO of MaineGeneral Health; Laura Kaiser, president and CEO of SSM Health; Michael Mayo, president and CEO of Baptist Health; Tim McManus, national group president for HCA Healthcare; Robert Trestmen, a professor and chair of psychiatry and behavioral medicine at Carilion Clinic and the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine; and Matt Wille, president and CEO of Munson Medical Center. In addition, Bill Gassen, president and CEO for Sanford Health, will take over an unexpired term on the board. (AHA News, 8/8)
• Maryland: CMS is revising its Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) survey to expand data on care quality amid low response rates. According to Modern Healthcare, several stakeholders have previously pushed for CMS to update the HCAHPS survey by changing the response format and adjusting its measures. Starting in 2025, CMS plans to allow respondents to complete the survey online rather than just by telephone or mail. The agency will also extend the data collection period from 42 to 49 days, reduce the number of supplemental survey items, and have an official translation for patients who speak Spanish. According to CMS, similar changes have been made to other data reporting programs and have led to higher response rates from young and more diverse patient groups. Aside from the survey changes, hospitals are also working to implement several strategies to improve their performance on survey measures. Some changes include hiring staff to oversee patient experience, training clinicians to communicate more effectively with patients and each other, and more. (Devereaux, Modern Healthcare, 8/9)
• New York: According to Oscar Health CEO Mark Bertolini, the company plans to expand geographically and offer new products next year to counteract declining membership. In the second quarter of 2023, enrollment decreased by 6.4%, largely due to declines in the company's health insurance exchange and Medicare Advantage businesses. Oscar Health reported a medical loss ratio of 79.9%, as well as a 49.6% growth in revenue to $1.5 billion, in the second quarter. Next year, Bertolini said Oscar Health is aiming to grow its premium revenue by 20% by expanding geographically in over half of the 20 states where it currently sells marketplace coverage. Specifically, the plan intends to target rural consumers and patients with specific health needs, such as those with respiratory disease. "We're looking to diversify our revenue across our markets, so we have priced appropriately and with margin in mind," Bertolini said. Oscar Health will also offer a new product called Breathe Easy, which is designed for patients with respiratory conditions in some markets next year. According to Bertolini, these offerings could allow the plan to enter health reimbursement arrangements with small-to-midsize employers who want to save costs for employees with chronic conditions. (Tepper, Modern Healthcare, 8/8)