Regulatory Relief

The regulatory burden faced by hospitals is substantial and unsustainable.

Every day, hospitals, health systems and post-acute care providers confront the daunting task of complying with a growing number of federal regulations. They are constantly challenged to understand and implement new or revised regulations, while maintaining their core mission of providing high-quality patient care.

Providers appreciate that federal regulation is intended to ensure that health care patients receive safe, high-quality care, and prioritize it as a critical part of their day-to-day work.

But the scope and pace of the changes being made is out-stripping many providers’ ability to absorb them. At the same time, many of these regulations do not improve the quality of patient care or access to services.

Providers need relief now. Read on for more information and resources on the AHA's regulatory relief agenda.

Congress must move forward with “bold solutions” to protect Medicare for today’s seniors and preserve the program for future generations, House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady (R-TX)  today told hospital leaders at the AHA Annual Membership Meeting in Washington, D.C.
The Department of Health and Human Services is looking to make meaningful use of electronic health records “more flexible and much more focused on clinical outcomes and interoperability” as it implements changes to the Medicare physician payment system under the Medicare Access and CHIP…
The health care system suffers from an overabundance of paper work. Hospitals and health systems can realize improvements and significant savings by increasing the volume of electronic data exchange called for under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountably Act's administrative…
Post-acute care providers play an essential role in new care delivery models, but relief from burdensome regulations is needed so they can continue innovations that bring value to patients, a panel of post-acute leaders told congressional staff today at an AHA-sponsored briefing on Capitol Hill.
Post-acute care (PAC) providers play an essential role in new care delivery models, but relief from burdensome regulations is needed so they can continue innovations that bring value to patients, a panel of PAC leaders told congressional staff Jan. 13 at an AHA-sponsored briefing on Capitol Hill.…
The House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs today held a hearing on a Department of Veterans Affairs’ proposal to consolidate its purchased care programs and business processes into a new Veterans Choice Program, with the goal of making it easier for veterans to access care and non-VA…
Passage of the Protecting Access to Rural Therapy Services Act, or PARTS Act, H.R. 1611/S. 257, the Critical Access Hospital Relief Act, H.R. 169/S. 258, and the Rural Community Hospital (RCH) Demonstration Extension Act, H.R. 672/S. 607, are key parts of the AHA’s rural hospital advocacy agenda.…
Passage of the Protecting Access to Rural Therapy Services Act, or PARTS Act, H.R. 1611/S. 257, the Critical Access Hospital Relief Act, H.R. 169/S. 258, and the Rural Community Hospital (RCH) Demonstration Extension Act, H.R. 672/S. 607, are key parts of the AHA’s rural hospital advocacy agenda.…
AHA letter to Rep. Bob Goodlatte expressing support for H.R. 2745, the Standard Merger and Acquisition Reviews Through Equal Rules Act of 2015.