Measles cases and deaths increased at a "staggering" rate last year, according to a new report from CDC and the World Health Organization (WHO), in today's bite-sized hospital and health industry news from Georgia and Maryland.

• Georgia: Measles cases and deaths increased at a "staggering" rate last year, according to a new report from CDC and WHO, which pointed to a worsening immunization gap that mostly affects children in poor countries. According to the report, measles cases increased by 18% between 2021 and 2022 and deaths increased by 43%, mostly among children. Worldwide, 37 countries — mostly in Africa — saw "large or disruptive" outbreaks last year, up from 22 countries in 2021. "The increase in measles outbreaks and deaths is staggering, but unfortunately, not unexpected given the declining vaccination rates we've seen in the past few years," said John Vertefeuille, director of CDC's Global Immunization Division. (Millman, Axios, 11/16)
• Maryland: CMS earlier this month issued a final rule that will require nursing homes to disclose their owners and affiliated businesses to federal authorities. Specifically, the rule requires that all nursing homes that accept Medicare or Medicaid disclose their owners, trustees, and any companies that provide administrative, clinical, and financial services, including REITs or other entities that own properties on which nursing homes are built. The rule will take effect 60 days after it appeared in the Federal Register, which was Nov. 17. (Bennett, Modern Healthcare, 11/15; Morse, Healthcare Finance, 11/15)
• Maryland: CMS earlier this month released its proposed standards for qualified health plans offered through health insurance marketplaces in 2025. In the proposed notice of benefit and payment parameters, CMS would require state-based marketplaces (SBMs) to comply with any time and distance network adequacy standards for qualified health plans that are at minimum as strict as those for federal marketplaces. The rule also proposes changes to standardize and streamline marketplace operations, including changes to call center standards, SBM eligibility, and enrollment platforms. (AHA News, 11/16)