Fact Sheets
The American Hospital Association (AHA) fact sheets on important issues facing hospitals and health systems. Fact Sheets define the terms of issues facing hospitals and health systems and provide in-depth explanations of the AHA's position on these issues.
Telehealth connects patients to vital health care services through videoconferencing, remote monitoring, electronic consults and wireless communications.
The Improving Medicare Post-Acute Care Transformation (IMPACT) Act of 2014 was enacted, in part, to develop a unified payment model for the post-acute care (PAC) field, recognizing that payment needed to be modernized for the four PAC settings – home health (HH) agencies, skilled nursing facilities…
A list that represents what actions would be necessary to maintain or extend telehealth flexibilities that were
implemented during the COVID-19 public health emergency.
The House of Representatives approved the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act (H.R. 6800) on May 15, 2020, which included the COVID-19 Every Worker First Protection Act of 2020.
The Issue
The Rural Community Hospital (RCH) demonstration tests an alternative payment model for small rural hospitals, in response to concerns that they face financial difficulties with Medicare’s inpatient prospective payment system (IPPS). In particular, the demonstration focuses on hospitals…
Prevailing in the nation’s fight against COVID-19 requires the undivided focus and full deployment of health care facilities and professionals serving on the front lines of the pandemic across the country.
As hospitals rise to meet the challenges of COVID-19 head on, the virus and its effect on the nation have created historic financial pressures for America’s hospitals and health systems. Hospitals have canceled non-emergency procedures, and many Americans are postponing care as they shelter in…
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, signed into law on March 27, provides resources and flexibility for rural hospitals.
The Senate and House are both considering legislation to address surprise medical bills that patients may incur as a result of unexpected gaps in insurance coverage or medical emergencies. Below are brief summaries of the proposals under consideration. A
AHA Ask: AHA supports protecting patients from surprise medical bills. Policymakers should focus on assisting rural hospitals in their negotiations with payers and providing the incentives and resources needed to maintain local access to care and not undermine these communities with potentially…