Wendell Primus to Receive 2023 AHA's Honorary Life Membership Award

WASHINGTON (April 14, 2023) – The American Hospital Association (AHA) today announced that Wendell Primus, former senior health policy advisor to Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, will be presented the AHA Honorary Life Membership Award for his outstanding contributions to advancing health care in America. The award recognizes individuals who have made important contributions to the health care field and who share the mission, values and goals of the AHA. 

Primus will receive the award at a ceremony at the AHA Annual Membership Meeting on April 24 in Washington, D.C.

“Wendell has contributed and led efforts resulting in the most consequential health care legislation in the last few decades,” said AHA President and CEO Rick Pollack. “We are proud to award Wendell this well-deserved Honorary Life Membership Award.  His leadership in passing and protecting the Affordable Care Act (ACA), shepherding the Congressional response to ensuring our nation’s hospitals and health systems had the resources to respond to the pandemic, and his devotion to ensuring care to Americans in poverty are just a few examples of the difference he has made to the country.”

Primus has been credited with some of the most successful efforts over the past 50 years in extending health coverage and lowering Americans’ health care costs. In addition, Primus is well-respected across both parties during his decades of selfless public service. 

Prior to his appointment by Speaker Emerita Pelosi, Primus served as the minority staff director at the Joint Economic Committee. In addition, he held positions at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, served in the Clinton Administration as the deputy assistant secretary for human services policy at the Department of Health and Human Services and served as chief economist for the House Ways and Means Committee.

Primus earned his Ph.D. in economics from Iowa State University.

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Contact:    Colin Milligan, cmilligan@aha.org
                  Ben Teicher, bteicher@aha.org