Statement on the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018

Rick Pollack
President and CEO
American Hospital Association

February 9, 2018 

Today’s continuing resolution includes many important provisions that benefit the patients and communities America’s hospitals and health systems are privileged to serve each day. Importantly, this bill delays for two years cuts to Medicaid Disproportionate Share Hospital payments, which are critical to hospitals and health systems that care for our nation’s most vulnerable populations—children, the poor, the disabled and the elderly. This delay will help ensure that hospitals can continue to deliver high-quality care for their patients. We also are encouraged that the bill extends critical rural programs—including the Medicare-dependent Hospital program, the enhanced Low-volume Adjustment program, and the ambulance add-on payment program—that help keep vital care and service in rural America.

Additionally, we’re pleased that the bill extends funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) for an additional four years, yielding a decade of certainty for children’s health coverage. With opioid addiction devastating families and communities across America, much-needed new funding to fight this epidemic is included in this package. We applaud the provisions in the bill that repeal the Medicare payment caps for outpatient therapy services, give hospitals more flexibility on meaningful use and increase the availability of telehealth services. The bill also supports chronic care management, including policies that advance team-based care, expand innovation and technology, empower individuals and care givers in care delivery and allow patients to receive more care in their homes. Finally, the bill repeals the independent payment advisory board. 

We look forward to continuing to work with Congress to advance health in America for patients and communities. 

Contact:          Marie Johnson, (202) 626-2351
                       Colin Milligan, (202) 638-5491

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About the AHA

The AHA is a not-for-profit association of health care provider organizations and individuals that are committed to the health improvement of their communities. The AHA is the national advocate for its members, which include nearly 5,000 hospitals, health care systems, networks, other providers of care and 43,000 individual members. Founded in 1898, the AHA provides education for health care leaders and is a source of information on health care issues and trends. For more information, visit the AHA website at www.aha.org.