Legislation and Legislative Advocacy
The American Hospital Association (AHA) shares resources on health care legislation being considered by the U.S. House and Senate and legislative advocacy opportunities for hospitals and health systems.
Senate Republicans this afternoon released a series of bills aimed at addressing the COVID-19 pandemic. The bills represent Senate Republicans’ offer on the next COVID-19 relief package.
Thirteen organizations representing health care providers, including the AHA, voiced support for the Value in Health Care Act, legislation to strengthen Medicare’s value-based payment models and accountable care organizations.
House Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Kevin Brady, R-Texas, and Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden, D-Ore., released separate legislative proposals that would make permanent certain Medicare telehealth flexibilities allowed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
AHA voiced support for the Critical Access Hospital Expansion Act (H.R. 6693), legislation that would reopen the “necessary provider” designation to eligible rural hospitals.
The House Appropriations Committee is marking up legislation that would provide $196.5 billion in funding for the departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education in fiscal year 2021. The bill also appropriates $24.4 billion in emergency spending.
The House of Representatives voted 233-188 along party lines to pass a $1.5 trillion bill (H.R. 2) introduced by Democratic leaders to rebuild American infrastructure, including roads, bridges, transit, housing and health care.
As James Madison wrote in the First Amendment of our Bill of Rights, we have the right to “petition the government for a redress of grievances.” We also have an important right that many in other countries don’t – the right to vote. These two rights go hand in hand as a foundation of our democracy.
Expanding access to telehealth services to provide much more patient-centered, convenient care. Creating additional health care workforce capacity and avoiding workforce shortages. Removing barriers for patients and communities to access needed care.
On behalf of our nearly 5,000 member hospitals, health systems and other health care organizations, our clinical partners – including more than 270,000 affiliated physicians, 2 million nurses and other caregivers – and the 43,000 health care leaders who belong to our professional membership groups…
The AHA urges leaders of the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies to support a number of issues important to hospitals and health systems as they consider funding for health care programs for fiscal year 2021.