/ en Thu, 24 Apr 2025 23:50:42 -0500 Mon, 14 Apr 25 12:15:37 -0500 <div class="container"><div class="row"><div class="col-md-8"><p>The House of Representatives and Senate have passed a combined budget resolution, allowing the chambers to move forward with the <a href="/issue-landing-page/2025-02-07-budget-reconciliation-process-resource-page">reconciliation process</a> as Republicans try to enact a key piece of the president’s agenda. House and Senate committees will begin drafting legislation consistent with their instructions from the budget resolution.</p><p>Specifically, the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which has primary jurisdiction over Medicaid and other health care programs, has been instructed to reduce deficits by not less than $880 billion so significant Medicaid cuts are being considered.</p><h2><span>Take Action</span></h2><p><strong>With your senators and representatives home in their states and districts for the next two weeks, please reach out to your lawmakers and urge them to reject funding cuts to Medicaid and other health care programs as part of reconciliation bill. Please tell your lawmakers how cuts to Medicaid and other programs would reduce access to care and services for patients in your communities. The AHA has a number of resources, including new ones on Medicaid, that can assist your advocacy efforts.</strong></p><h2>AHA Resources</h2><h3>Medicaid and Enhanced Premium Tax Credits (EPTC)</h3><p><strong>Explain how vital Medicaid is to your communities.</strong> The AHA has developed several resources hospitals and health systems can use.</p><ul><li><span><strong>NEW!</strong></span><strong> Protect Access to Care.</strong> Use this <a href="/fact-sheets/2025-04-14-protect-access-care-reject-cuts-medicaid-program-and-premium-hikes-working-families">infographic</a> to demonstrate the national hospital impact of potential Medicaid cuts and EPTCs expiring.</li><li><span><strong>NEW!</strong></span><strong> What’s at Stake.</strong> Use this <a href="/fact-sheets/2025-04-14-whats-stake-medicaid-covers-people-you-know">fact sheet</a> to show the makeup of Medicaid coverage across the country and what’s at stake if Congress cuts the program.</li></ul><p>In addition, the AHA has a series of additional resources to assist you in your advocacy to protect Medicaid, including the following:</p><ul><li><a href="/fact-sheets/2025-02-07-fact-sheet-medicaid">General Fact Sheet on Medicaid</a></li><li><a href="/fact-sheets/2025-02-07-fact-sheet-medicaid-provider-taxes">Fact Sheet on Medicaid Provider Taxes</a></li><li><a href="/fact-sheets/2025-02-07-fact-sheet-medicaid-provider-taxes">Fact Sheet on Medicaid Hospital Payment Basics</a></li><li><a href="/fact-sheets/2025-02-07-fact-sheet-capita-caps-medicaid-program">Medicaid Per Capita Caps</a></li></ul><p><strong>Explain why Congress should </strong><a href="/fact-sheets/2025-02-07-fact-sheet-enhanced-premium-tax-credits"><strong>extend the EPTCs</strong></a> before they expire at the end of the year as they have increased access to health care coverage and high-quality care for patients and communities served by hospitals, health systems and other providers.</p><h3>Site-neutral Payment Policies</h3><p><strong>Tell your lawmakers why they should </strong><a href="/advocacy/advocacy-issues/2023-09-11-advocacy-issue-site-neutral-payment-proposals"><strong>reject site-neutral policies</strong></a><strong>,</strong> as they would reduce patient access to vital health care services, particularly in rural and other medically underserved communities.</p><h3>340B Drug Pricing Program</h3><p><strong>Ask your lawmakers to </strong><a href="/340b-drug-savings-program"><strong>preserve the 340B program</strong></a> to ensure the program continues to help eligible hospitals stretch limited resources and provide more comprehensive services to more patients.</p><h2>Further Questions</h2><p>Visit the <a href="/advocacy/action-center">AHA Action Center</a> for more resources on these issues and other priorities important to hospitals and health systems.</p><p>If you have further questions, please contact AHA at <a href="tel:1-800-424-4301">800-424-4301</a>.</p></div><div class="col-md-4"><p><a href="/system/files/media/file/2025/04/Action-Alert-TAKE-ACTION-Urge-Lawmakers-to-Reject-Medicaid-Cuts-Protect-Access-to-Care.pdf" target="_blank" title="Click here to download the Action Alert TAKE ACTION: Urge Lawmakers to Reject Medicaid Cuts, Protect Access to Care PDF."><img src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/Page-1-Action-Alert-TAKE-ACTION-Urge-Lawmakers-to-Reject-Medicaid-Cuts-Protect-Access-to-Care.png" data-entity-uuid="6711b1a3-0cbf-4224-bfd8-94cda212c07f" data-entity-type="file" alt="Action Alert TAKE ACTION: Urge Lawmakers to Reject Medicaid Cuts, Protect Access to Care page 1." width="695" height="900"></a></p></div></div></div> Mon, 14 Apr 2025 12:15:37 -0500 Action Alert <div class="container"><div class="row"><div class="col-md-8"><p>In December, Congress passed a legislative package to fund the government through March 14 and extend key health care provisions through the end of March. Congressional action is needed once again to fund the government and ensure long-term stability for these critical health care programs. At the same time, House and Senate Republicans are planning a strategy to use the budget reconciliation process to accomplish some of their legislative priorities, and Congress must raise the debt ceiling in the coming months. As part of these strategies, they are considering proposals that would reduce funding for hospital care, including reductions to the Medicaid program, jeopardizing access to the 24/7 care and services that hospitals provide.</p><h2>Action Needed</h2><p><strong>Please ask your senators and representatives to prevent Medicaid disproportionate share hospital payment cuts from taking effect; extend enhanced low-volume adjustment and Medicare-dependent hospital programs that expand access to care in rural areas; and extend telehealth and hospital-at-home waivers. These policies are currently set to expire at the end of March and must be extended.</strong></p><p><strong>In your discussions with your legislators, please continue to share the valuable role your hospital or health system plays in the community they represent and urge them to reject cuts that would jeopardize access to hospital care and services that patients rely on.</strong></p><p>More details and resources to support your advocacy efforts on these important issues follow.</p><h2>Health Care Extenders</h2><p>Congress passed a legislative package in December that extended some key health care provisions through the end of March, but additional congressional action is needed.</p><ul><li><strong>Prevent Medicaid DSH Cuts.</strong> The Medicaid disproportionate share hospital (DSH) program provides essential financial assistance to hospitals that care for our nation’s most vulnerable populations — children, the impoverished, disabled and elderly. Without congressional action, billions in cuts would take effect April 1. <strong>See the </strong><a href="/system/files/media/file/2020/02/fact-sheet-medicaid-dsh-0120.pdf"><strong>Medicaid DSH fact sheet</strong></a><strong> for more details.</strong></li><li><strong>Extend Key Rural Programs.</strong> The enhanced low-volume adjustment and Medicare-dependent hospital programs provide rural, geographically isolated and low-volume hospitals additional financial support to ensure rural residents have access to care. Without congressional action, these programs will expire on April 1. <strong>See the </strong><a href="/fact-sheets/2022-08-30-fact-sheet-rural-hospital-support-act-s4009-assistance-rural-community"><strong>rural programs fact sheet</strong></a><strong> for more details.</strong></li><li><strong>Extend Telehealth and Hospital-at-Home Waivers.</strong> Congress has extended telehealth waivers and the hospital-at-home program through March 31, but additional action is needed. See the <a href="/advocacy/advocacy-issues/2024-10-31-advocacy-issue-telehealth-waivers">telehealth</a> and <a href="/fact-sheets/2024-08-06-fact-sheet-extending-hospital-home-program">hospital-at-home fact sheets</a> for more details.</li></ul><h2>Critical Issues for the 119th Congress</h2><p>Following our Feb. 5 advocacy update webinar for members, we are providing new fact sheets and primers on emerging issues of significant importance for hospitals and health systems. We will be providing updates, new resources and data on these and other issues to help your advocacy efforts throughout the year.</p><h3>Reject Cuts to Medicaid</h3><p>Republican leaders continue to have discussions about how to use reconciliation — a <a href="/issue-landing-page/2025-02-07-budget-reconciliation-process-resource-page">budget tool</a> that gives Congress a fast-track mechanism to avoid the Senate filibuster and pass legislation with a simple majority. House and Senate Republicans are expected to use the budget reconciliation process to try to pass key agenda items on taxes, energy and border security, and they may look to health program funding as a way to pay for this legislation. <strong>Such proposals could significantly reduce federal spending for the Medicaid program. Even a small portion of possible reductions could have wide-ranging negative consequences for the health and well-being of both Medicaid enrollees and the broader health care system.</strong></p><p>The AHA has developed a number of resources hospitals and health systems can use as part of their advocacy efforts, including the following:</p><ul><li><a href="/fact-sheets/2025-02-07-fact-sheet-medicaid">General Fact Sheet on Medicaid</a></li><li><a href="/fact-sheets/2025-02-07-fact-sheet-medicaid-provider-taxes">Fact Sheet on Medicaid Provider Taxes</a></li><li><a href="/fact-sheets/2025-02-07-fact-sheet-medicaid-hospital-payment-basics">Fact Sheet on Medicaid Hospital Payment Basics</a></li><li><a href="/fact-sheets/2025-02-07-fact-sheet-capita-caps-medicaid-program">Medicaid Per Capita Caps</a></li></ul><h3>Extend Enhanced Premium Tax Credits</h3><p>The federal government offers enhanced premium tax credits (EPTCs) to help eligible individuals and families purchase coverage on the health insurance marketplaces. These policies are scheduled to expire at the end of 2025. <strong>Congress should extend the EPTCs before the end of the year</strong> as they have increased access to health care coverage and high-quality care for patients and communities served by hospitals, health systems and other providers. <strong>Download the AHA fact sheet, which includes new data on the negative impact of not extending the </strong><a href="/fact-sheets/2025-02-07-fact-sheet-enhanced-premium-tax-credits"><strong>EPTCs</strong></a><strong>.</strong></p><h3>Reject Site-neutral Payment Cuts</h3><p>Congress is considering several bills that would impose billions in Medicare site-neutral payment reductions for services provided in hospital outpatient departments. <strong>Congress should reject site-neutral proposals</strong> because they would reduce patient access to vital health care services, particularly in rural and other medically underserved communities. <strong>See AHA resources on the detrimental impact of </strong><a href="/advocacy/advocacy-issues/2023-09-11-advocacy-issue-site-neutral-payment-proposals"><strong>site-neutral policies</strong></a><strong>.</strong></p><h3>Protect the 340B Drug Pricing Program</h3><p>For more than 30 years, the 340B Drug Pricing Program has provided financial help to hospitals serving vulnerable communities to manage rising prescription drug costs. However, some in Congress and the pharmaceutical industry want to see the program scaled back. <strong>Congress should protect the 340B program</strong> for all providers and ensure the program continues to help stretch limited resources and provide more comprehensive services to more patients. <strong>Download the AHA fact sheets on the </strong><a href="/340b-drug-savings-program"><strong>340B program</strong></a><strong>.</strong></p><h2>Further Questions</h2><p>Visit the <a href="/advocacy/action-center">AHA Action Center</a> for more resources on these issues and other priorities important to hospitals and health systems. Watch for more Action Alerts and resources from the AHA to assist your advocacy efforts. If you have further questions, please contact AHA at 800-424-4301.</p></div><div class="col-md-4"><p><a href="/system/files/media/file/2025/02/Contact-Your-Lawmakers-and-Urge-Them-to-Extend-Key-Health-Care-Policies-Set-to-Expire-Next-Month.pdf" target="_blank" title="Click here to download the Action Alert ACTION NEEDED: Contact Your Lawmakers and Urge Them to Extend Key Health Care Policies Set to Expire Next Month PDF."><img src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/Page-1-Contact-Your-Lawmakers-and-Urge-Them-to-Extend-Key-Health-Care-Policies-Set-to-Expire-Next-Month.png" data-entity-uuid="2dd3d759-0b56-4a54-8cdb-d635ee169360" data-entity-type="file" alt="Action Alert: ACTION NEEDED: Contact Your Lawmakers and Urge Them to Extend Key Health Care Policies Set to Expire Next Month page 1." width="696" height="900"></a></p></div></div></div> Fri, 07 Feb 2025 15:04:02 -0600 Action Alert <div class="container"><div class="row"><div class="col-md-8"><p>Lawmakers have returned to Washington, D.C., to tackle end-of-the-year funding needs. Quick action is needed this week to address the Medicaid disproportionate share hospital (DSH) payment reductions.</p><p>The <a href="/fact-sheets/2023-03-28-fact-sheet-medicaid-dsh-program">Medicaid DSH program</a> provides essential financial assistance to hospitals that care for our nation’s most vulnerable populations — children, impoverished, disabled and elderly. Fiscal year 2025 Medicaid DSH payment reductions are scheduled to take effect on Jan. 1, 2025, with $8 billion in cuts. The AHA is asking Congress to continue to provide relief from the Medicaid DSH cuts.</p><p><strong>Contact your representative by Dec. 6 and ask them to sign on to the bipartisan </strong><a href="/system/files/media/file/2024/11/congress-dear-colleague-letter-to-stop-medicaid-disproportionate-share-hospital-dsh-payment-cuts-11-13-2024.pdf"><strong>House Dear Colleague letter</strong></a><strong> being circulated by Rep. Dan Crenshaw, R-Texas, Rep. Yvette Clarke, D-N.Y., Rep. Gus Bilirakis, R-Fla., and Rep. Diana DeGette, D-Colo., calling for the Medicaid DSH cuts to be addressed.</strong> View the <a href="/system/files/media/file/2024/11/house-medicaid-dsh-letter-signers-november-2024.pdf">list of current signers</a> to see if your representative supports the letter. If they have not signed, use <a href="/2020-10-07-get-involved?vvsrc=%2fCampaigns%2f118959%2fRespond">this form</a> to send a message asking them to sign now.</p><p>In addition, please see the recent <a href="/action-alert/2024-11-13-aha-asks-congressional-leadership-fund-hospitals-protect-health-care-workers">AHA Action Alert</a> that includes messages and resources on a number of priorities we continue to push with Congress as they work on year-end legislative packages.</p><h2>Further Questions</h2><p>Visit the <a href="/advocacy/action-center">AHA Action Center</a> for more resources on these issues and other priorities important to hospitals and health systems.</p><p>If you have further questions, please contact AHA at <a href="tel:1-800-424-4301">800-424-4301</a>.</p></div><div class="col-md-4"><p><a href="/system/files/media/file/2024/12/Action-Alert-Urgent-Ask-Your-Lawmaker-to-Prevent-Medicaid-DSH-Payment-Cuts.pdf" target="_blank" title="Click here to download the Action Alert: Urgent: Ask Your Lawmaker to Prevent Medicaid DSH Payment Cuts PDF."><img src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/Action-Alert-Urgent-Ask-Your-Lawmaker-to-Prevent-Medicaid-DSH-Payment-Cuts.png" data-entity-uuid="1171b980-eb8c-4123-a9c6-732c7353be44" data-entity-type="file" alt="Action Alert: Urgent: Ask Your Lawmaker to Prevent Medicaid DSH Payment Cuts page 1." width="695" height="900"></a></p></div></div></div> Mon, 02 Dec 2024 11:58:46 -0600 Action Alert <div class="container"><div class="row"><div class="col-md-8"><p>Following the elections, lawmakers are returning to Washington, D.C., to tackle key funding issues, including Medicaid disproportionate share hospital (DSH) payment reductions and support for rural programs. They also will consider site-neutral payment proposals, oversight of health plans, continuation of telehealth and hospital-at-home waivers, and the prevention of violence against health care workers.</p><p>Before the lame-duck session ends and the 118th Congress adjourns, it is essential that federal lawmakers understand the challenges hospitals and health systems face and what is at stake for the patients and communities they represent. With several programs facing expiration at the end of this year, quick action is needed to preserve necessary funding and support for the nation’s health care organizations.</p><p>Here are the issues AHA leaders are <a href="/2024-11-12-aha-urges-congress-act-key-priorities-lame-duck-session" target="_blank" title="Issues AHA Leaders are calling on Congress to reinforce">calling on congressional leaders</a> to reinforce. Following is an overview of the issues and what you can do to assist these advocacy efforts.</p><h2>SUPPORT MEDICAID DSH DEAR COLLEAGUE LETTER</h2><p>At the beginning of the year, billions of dollars will be cut from the Medicaid DSH program, severely jeopardizing hospitals’ finances and threatening communities’ access to care. Contact your representative(s) and ask them to sign on to the bipartisan <a href="/system/files/media/file/2024/11/congress-dear-colleague-letter-to-stop-medicaid-disproportionate-share-hospital-dsh-payment-cuts-11-13-2024.pdf" target="_blank" title="House Dear Colleague Letter">House Dear Colleague letter</a> being circulated by Reps. Dan Crenshaw, R-Texas, Yvette Clarke, D-N.Y., Gus Bilirakis, R-Fla., and Diana DeGette, D-Colo., calling for Medicaid DSH cuts to be addressed. <a href="https://www.votervoice.net/AHA/Campaigns/118959/Respond">Click here</a> to send a message to your representatives.</p><h2><strong>LEGISLATIVE ACTION NEEDED</strong></h2><p><strong>Address the Medicaid</strong> <strong>DSH Payment Reductions. </strong>The <a href="/fact-sheets/2023-03-28-fact-sheet-medicaid-dsh-program" target="_blank" title="Medicare DSH Program Information">Medicaid DSH program</a> provides essential financial assistance to hospitals that care for our nation’s most vulnerable populations — children, impoverished, disabled and elderly. The fiscal year 2025 Medicaid DSH payment reductions are scheduled to be implemented on Jan. 1, 2025, when $8 billion in reductions take effect. The AHA calls on Congress to continue to provide relief from the Medicaid DSH cuts.</p><p><strong>Protect Rural Communities’ Access to Care.</strong> The AHA urges Congress to continue the <a href="/advocacy/advocacy-issues/2024-10-31-advocacy-issue-rural-mdh-and-lva-programs" target="_blank" title="Medicare-dependent Hospitals and Low-volume Adjustment programs">Medicare-dependent Hospitals and Low-volume Adjustment programs</a>. These programs provide rural, geographically isolated and low-volume hospitals additional financial support to ensure rural residents have access to care. These programs expire on Dec. 31, 2024. Congress should also enact a technical correction to remove barriers for Rural Emergency Hospitals to receive hospital-level reimbursement for outpatient services under Medicaid<strong>.</strong> </p><p><strong>Reject Site-neutral Payment Proposals.</strong> The AHA strongly opposes efforts to expand <a href="/advocacy/advocacy-issues/2023-09-11-advocacy-issue-site-neutral-payment-proposals" target="_blank" title="Site-neutral payment cuts information">site-neutral payment cuts</a> to include essential drug administration services furnished in off-campus hospital outpatient departments (HOPDs). Current Medicare payment rates appropriately recognize that there are fundamental differences between patient care delivered in HOPDs compared to other settings. HOPDs have higher patient safety and quality standards, and, unlike other sites of care, hospitals take important additional steps to ensure drugs are prepared and administered safely for both patients and providers. </p><p>The AHA also calls on Congress to reject legislative efforts requiring each off-campus HOPD to be assigned a separate unique health identifier from its provider as a condition of payment under Medicare or group health plans. Hospitals are already required to be transparent about the location of care delivery. This requirement would be duplicative and impose unnecessary and onerous administrative burdens and costs by needlessly requiring the overhaul of current billing practices and systems.</p><p><strong>Hold Commercial Health Plans Accountable.</strong> Certain health plan practices, such as inappropriate care denials and delayed payments, threaten patient access to care. These practices also contribute to clinician burnout and add excessive administrative costs and burdens to the health care system. The AHA urges Congress to pass the<a href="/lettercomment/2024-06-12-aha-support-house-improving-seniors-timely-access-care-act" target="_blank" title="Improving seniors timely access to care"> Improving Seniors Timely Access to Care Act</a> (H.R. 8702/ S. 4532), bipartisan legislation supported by more than half of the members of the House and Senate. The bill would streamline the prior authorization process in the Medicare Advantage program by eliminating complexity and promoting uniformity to reduce the wide variation in prior authorization methods that frustrate both patients and providers.</p><p><strong>Extend </strong><a href="/system/files/media/file/2024/05/fact-sheet-2024-telehealth-advocacy-agenda.pdf" target="_blank" title="Telehealth information"><strong>Telehealth</strong></a><strong> and </strong><a href="/system/files/media/file/2024/07/Fact-Sheet-Extending-the-Hospital-at-Home-Program-20240719.pdf" target="_blank" title="Hospitals-at-home information"><strong>Hospital-at-home</strong></a><strong> Waivers.</strong> During the COVID-19 public health emergency, Congress established a series of waivers expanding access for millions of Americans and increasing convenience in caring for patients. Telehealth provides a tremendous ability to leverage geographically dispersed provider capacity to support patient demand. The AHA calls on Congress to permanently adopt telehealth waivers and expand the telehealth workforce. </p><p>The AHA also urges Congress to pass the <a href="/lettercomment/2024-05-23-aha-support-house-bill-hospital-inpatient-services-modernization-act-2024" target="_blank" title="Hospitals Inpatient Services Modernization Act">Hospital Inpatient Services Modernization Act</a> (H.R. 8260/S. 4350), extending the hospital-at-home waiver for five years through 2029. Congressional action will reassure hospitals and health systems that are interested in developing such programs for their communities. </p><p><strong>Prevent Reimbursement Cuts for Physicians. </strong>Congress should take action to mitigate the scheduled physician reimbursement cuts for 2025 and to continue its work on broader reform for sustainable physician payment. Physicians have dealt with over two decades of conversion factor decrements, as well as significant staffing shortages and rising inflation in recent years. The scheduled 2.8% payment reduction in the 2025 Physician Fee Schedule would result in a significant risk to patients’ access to care.</p><p><strong>Protect America’s Health Care Workers.</strong> The AHA calls on Congress to enact the <a href="/system/files/media/file/2022/09/Fact-Sheet-Workplace-Violence-and-Intimidation-and-the-Need-for-a-Federal-Legislative-Response.pdf" target="_blank" title="SAVE Act information">Safety from Violence for Healthcare Employees (SAVE) Act</a> (H.R. 2584/S. 2768). This bipartisan bill would provide federal protections from workplace violence for hospital workers, similar to the protections in current law for airport and airline workers.</p><h2>FURTHER QUESTIONS</h2><p>Visit the <a href="/advocacy/action-center" target="_blank" title="AHA Action Center">AHA Action Center</a> for more resources on these issues and other priorities important to hospitals and health systems.</p><p>If you have further questions, please contact AHA at 800-424-4301.<br> </p></div><div class="col-md-4"><a href="/system/files/media/file/2024/11/aha-asks-congressional-leadership-to-fund-hospitals-protect-health-care-workers-alert-11-13-2024.pdf"><img src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/cover-aha-asks-congressional-leadership-to-fund-hospitals-protect-health-care-workers-alert-11-13-2024.png" data-entity-uuid="40f68d4b-dfe5-4e56-af78-6f8af97f13ca" data-entity-type="file" alt="Action Alert Cover Image" width="640" height="834"></a></div></div><p> </p></div> Wed, 13 Nov 2024 14:05:33 -0600 Action Alert <div class="container"><div class="row"><div class="col-md-8"><p>Lawmakers have returned to their districts for October after passing a continuing resolution that will keep the government funded through Dec. 20. Following the November election, lawmakers will return to Washington for a busy lame-duck session when key funding issues, including Medicaid disproportionate share hospital (DSH) and rural programs, will be on the agenda.</p><p>Now, while lawmakers are in their district, it is important for the field to engage with members of Congress to remind them of the importance of preserving access to care by continuing to fund vital programs and avoiding harmful policies such as site-neutral payments. It is essential that federal lawmakers understand the challenges hospitals and health systems face and what is at stake for the patients and communities they represent.</p><p>While AHA makes the case in Washington, D.C., we also continue to increase our efforts to engage the field with their lawmakers. It is important that hospital and health system leaders reinforce these messages back home. Your legislators listen to you because you live, work, vote and provide care in their communities. Lawmakers need to hear how congressional support is necessary to ensure hospitals can provide the 24/7 access to care patients and communities depend on.</p><h2>WHAT YOU CAN DO</h2><ul><li><strong>Contact</strong> your lawmakers and arrange conversations about the challenges your organization is facing and why additional support is needed.</li><li><strong>Invite</strong> your elected officials to visit your organization to show them firsthand the important service you provide to their communities.</li><li><strong>Explain</strong> to your elected lawmakers how government funding programs such as Medicaid DSH, enhanced low-volume adjustment (LVA) and Medicare-dependent hospitals (MDH), and others impact your ability to provide care in your community, and what would happen if those programs were not extended.</li><li><strong>Share</strong> this alert with your government affairs and media relations staff, leadership team and governance board to ensure a cohesive narrative around issues impacting hospitals and health systems. Be prepared to give specific examples of what services could be at stake.</li></ul><h2>AREAS OF FOCUS</h2><p><strong>Prevent damaging cuts to hospitals. </strong>The <a href="/fact-sheets/2023-03-28-fact-sheet-medicaid-dsh-program">Medicaid DSH program</a> provides essential financial assistance to hospitals that care for our nation’s most vulnerable populations — children, impoverished, disabled and elderly. The Medicaid DSH payment reductions are scheduled to be implemented on Jan. 1, 2025, when $8 billion in reductions take effect. <u>Congress should provide relief from the Medicaid DSH cuts.</u></p><p>In addition, <a href="/fact-sheets/2022-08-30-fact-sheet-rural-hospital-support-act-s4009-assistance-rural-community">MDH and LVA programs</a> provide rural, geographically isolated and low-volume hospitals additional financial support to ensure rural residents have access to care. These programs are set to expire Dec. 31, 2024. <u>Congress should extend or make these critical rural programs permanent.</u> AHA member hospitals participating in the MDH and/or LVA programs received an Alert with data on the impact on their organization if these programs expire.</p><p><a href="/issue-landing-page/2023-09-11-advocacy-issue-site-neutral-payment-proposals"><strong>Reject so-called site-neutral payment proposals.</strong></a><strong> </strong>When Congress returns from recess, AHA expects to see continued efforts to push proposals that would enact additional site-neutral payment cuts. <u>Urge your lawmakers to oppose any site-neutral payment proposal</u> as they would impose billions of dollars in additional Medicare payment cuts for services provided by hospital outpatient departments. It’s important to emphasize that these proposals would reduce patient access to vital health care services, particularly in rural and other medically underserved communities.</p><p><strong>Hold commercial health plans accountable. </strong>Certain health plan practices threaten patient access to care, contribute to clinician burnout and add excessive administrative costs and burden to the health care system. Regulators should increase their oversight of health plans<strong> </strong>and implement a comprehensive simplification agenda, beginning with streamlining prior authorization requirements and processes and monitoring for abusive payment delays and denials. <u>Urge Congress to pass the </u><a href="/lettercomment/2024-06-12-aha-support-house-improving-seniors-timely-access-care-act">Improving Seniors Timely Access to Care Act</a><u> — bipartisan legislation that would streamline the prior authorization process in the Medicare Advantage program.</u></p><p><strong>Permanently adopt </strong><a href="/system/files/media/file/2024/05/fact-sheet-2024-telehealth-advocacy-agenda.pdf"><strong>telehealth</strong></a><strong> and </strong><a href="/system/files/media/file/2024/07/Fact-Sheet-Extending-the-Hospital-at-Home-Program-20240719.pdf"><strong>hospital-at-home</strong></a><strong> waivers. </strong>During the public health emergency, Congress established a series of waivers expanding access for millions of Americans and increasing convenience in caring for patients. Telehealth holds tremendous potential to leverage geographically dispersed provider capacity to support patient demand. <u>Congress should permanently adopt telehealth waivers and expand the telehealth workforce</u>.</p><p>Hospital-at-home programs are a safe, innovative way to care for patients in the comfort of their homes. With over 300 hospitals with hospital-at-home programs, many other hospitals and health systems indicate they are interested in developing programs for their communities but are reluctant to do so without congressional action. <u>Urge</u> <u>Congress to pass the Hospital Inpatient Services Modernization Act (</u><a href="/lettercomment/2024-05-23-aha-support-house-bill-hospital-inpatient-services-modernization-act-2024">H.R. 8260</a><u>/</u><a href="/lettercomment/2024-05-23-aha-support-senate-bill-hospital-inpatient-services-modernization-act-2024">S. 4350</a><u>), extending the hospital-at-home waiver for five years through 2029.</u> The current waiver is set to expire Dec. 31, 2024.</p><p><strong>Protect America’s health care workers. </strong>Enactment of the <a href="/action-alert/2024-06-07-urge-congress-protect-health-care-workers-violence-passing-save-act">Safety from Violence for Healthcare Employees (SAVE) Act</a> (H.R. 2584/S. 2768) is a top priority for the AHA and the hospital field. This bipartisan bill would provide federal protections from workplace violence for hospital workers, similar to the protections in current law for airport and airline workers. <u>Urge your lawmakers to cosponsor the bipartisan SAVE Act.</u></p><h2>RESOURCES</h2><ul><li><a href="https://www.senate.gov/legislative/resources/pdf/2024_calendar.pdf">Senate</a> and <a href="https://www.majorityleader.gov/uploadedfiles/2024_house_calendar_-_one_page_-_revised_april_2024.pdf">House</a> 2024 calendars.</li><li><a href="/2024-03-01-congressional-site-visits-during-and-after">Congressional Site Visits</a>: Before, During and After — AHA’s comprehensive resource to help you and your staff plan a lawmaker’s visit.</li><li><a href="https://youtu.be/T-RlDRPzJCE">Video </a>of Bruce White, CEO of Knox Community Hospital in Ohio, describing his experience hosting a site visit.</li></ul><p>See AHA’s additional tips and best practices to enhance your advocacy <a href="/advocacy/2023-03-07-advocacy-tips-and-best-practices">here</a>.</p><h2>FURTHER QUESTIONS</h2><p><strong>To support your efforts to communicate effectively with lawmakers and their staff, visit the </strong><a href="/advocacy/action-center"><strong>AHA Action Center</strong></a><strong> for more resources on these issues and other priorities important to hospitals and health systems. </strong></p><p>If you have further questions, please contact AHA at 800-424-4301.</p></div><div class="col-md-4"><a href="/system/files/media/file/2024/09/action-needed-contact-lawmakers-on-important-issues-facing-hospitals-and-health-systems-9-30-2024.pdf" target="_blank" action alert><img src="/sites/default/files/2024-09/cover-action-needed-contact-lawmakers-on-important-issues-facing-hospitals-and-health-systems-9-30-2024.png" data-entity-uuid data-entity-type="file" alt="Cover Action Alert: ACTION NEEDED: Contact Lawmakers on Important Issues Facing Hospitals and Health Systems" width="NaN" height="NaN"></a></div></div></div> Mon, 30 Sep 2024 13:20:55 -0500 Action Alert <div class="container"><div class="row"><div class="col-md-8"><p>Reps. Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.), Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.), Doris Matsui (D-Calif.), Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.), Tracey Mann (R-Kan.) and Rob Wittman (R-Va.) are asking representatives to sign onto a letter to the Department of Health and Human Services urging it to take action to stop Johnson & Johnson’s (J&J) plan “to upend more than 30 years of federal law by delaying access to 340B Drug Pricing Program <a>(340B) </a>discounts on pharmaceuticals for certain safety-net hospitals.”</p><p>The letter states, “This unapproved and unlawful change would have severe consequences for our nation’s safety net providers and the patients they serve. We understand that J&J is moving forward with this proposal despite being told by the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) that the company’s proposal is inconsistent with the 340B statute. We thank you for your continued efforts to preserve the integrity of 340B and swift response to this announcement thus far, and urge you to use every enforcement tool at your disposal to protect the communities safety-net hospitals serve from this devastating change to 340B.”</p><p><strong>Please contact your representative and ask them to sign onto the letter by Sept. 20. It is important that we get as many signatures as possible on the letter.</strong></p><h2>BACKGROUND</h2><p>On Aug. 23, J&J announced that it would be upending its approach to 340B pricing for two of its most popular products, Stelara and Xarelto. Historically, J&J offered upfront discounts to 340B hospitals when they purchased these drugs. Starting on Oct. 15, however, J&J will require all disproportionate share hospitals participating in the 340B Program to purchase these drugs at full price and apply for a rebate from J&J. Under the new program, these hospitals will be required to submit certain data to J&J when they purchase the drugs at full price. After J&J verifies the drug’s 340B status, it will send disproportionate share hospitals a rebate for the difference between the amount paid and the discounted 340B price.</p><p>Right after J&J’s announcement, AHA expressed <a href="/2024-08-28-aha-urges-hrsa-take-immediate-enforcement-action-block-jjs-illegal-imposition-340b-rebate-model">concern</a> and said HRSA should take “immediate enforcement action,” including assessing civil monetary penalties on Johnson & Johnson for intentionally overcharging 340B hospitals.</p><h2>FURTHER QUESTIONS</h2><p>For questions, contact Aimee Kuhlman, AHA’s vice president of advocacy and grassroots, at <a href="mailto:akuhlman@aha.org">akuhlman@aha.org</a>. </p></div><div class="col-md-4"><a href="/system/files/media/file/2024/09/urge-your-representative-to-sign-letter-for-hhs-to-act-on-j-and-j-340b-proposal-alert-9-13-2024-f.pdf" title="Action Alert "><img src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/cover-urge-your-representative-to-sign-letter-for-hhs-to-act-on-j-and-j-340b-proposal-alert-9-13-2024-f.png" data-entity-uuid="206ff848-fbf5-432c-ada3-2ebfa2807e19" data-entity-type="file" alt="Urge Your Representatives to Sign Letter to HHS Asking it to Take Action to Protect Providers from ‘Devastating’ J&J 340B Proposal Cover Imagel" width="640" height="834"></a></div></div></div> Fri, 13 Sep 2024 14:35:12 -0500 Action Alert <div class="container"><div class="row"><div class="col-md-8"><p>Lawmakers have returned to Washington for three weeks to consider government funding, which expires Oct. 1. Congress must pass a continuing resolution (CR) by Sept. 30 to avoid a government shutdown. Leading into the election, lawmakers will return to their home districts but return to Washington in November for a busy lame-duck session when key funding issues, including Medicaid disproportionate share hospital (DSH) and rural programs, will be on the agenda.</p><p>During the next few weeks and again following the election, the field needs to engage with members of Congress to remind them of the importance of preserving access to care by continuing to fund vital programs and avoid harmful policies such as site-neutral payments. It is essential that federal lawmakers understand the challenges hospitals and health systems face and what is at stake for the patients and communities they represent.</p><p>While AHA makes the case in Washington, D.C., hospital and health system leaders must reinforce these important messages back home. Your legislators listen to you because you live, work, vote and provide care in their communities. Lawmakers need to hear how congressional support is necessary to ensure hospitals can provide the 24/7 access to care patients and communities depend on.</p><h2>What You Can Do</h2><ul><li><strong>Contact</strong> your lawmakers and arrange conversations about the challenges your organization is facing and why additional support is needed.</li><li><strong>Explain</strong> to your elected lawmakers how government funding programs such as Medicaid DSH, enhanced low-volume adjustment (LVA) and Medicare-dependent hospitals (MDH), and others impact your ability to provide care in your community, and what would happen if those programs were not extended.</li><li><strong>Share</strong> this alert with your government affairs and media relations staff, leadership team and governance board to ensure a cohesive narrative around issues impacting hospitals and health systems. Be prepared to give specific examples of what services could be at stake.</li></ul><h2>Areas of Focus and AHA Resources</h2><h3>Prevent Damaging Cuts to Hospitals</h3><p>The <a href="g/fact-sheets/2023-03-28-fact-sheet-medicaid-dsh-program">Medicaid DSH program</a> provides essential financial assistance to hospitals that care for our nation’s most vulnerable populations — children, impoverished, disabled and elderly. The Medicaid DSH payment reductions are scheduled to be implemented on Jan. 1, 2025, when $8 billion in reductions take effect. <strong>Congress should provide relief from the Medicaid DSH cuts.</strong></p><p>In addition, <a href="/fact-sheets/2022-08-30-fact-sheet-rural-hospital-support-act-s4009-assistance-rural-community">MDH and LVA programs</a> provide rural, geographically isolated and low-volume hospitals additional financial support to ensure rural residents have access to care. These programs are set to expire Dec. 31, 2024. <strong>Congress should extend or make these critical rural programs permanent.</strong> AHA member hospitals participating in the MDH and/or LVA programs received an Alert with data on the impact on their organization if these programs expire.</p><h3><a href="/issue-landing-page/2023-09-11-advocacy-issue-site-neutral-payment-proposals"><span><u>Reject So-called Site-neutral Payment Proposals</u></span></a></h3><p>When Congress returns from recess, AHA expects to see continued efforts to push proposals that would enact additional site-neutral payment cuts. <strong>Urge your lawmakers to oppose any site-neutral payment proposal</strong> as they would impose billions of dollars in additional Medicare payment cuts for services provided by hospital outpatient departments. It’s important to emphasize that these proposals would reduce patient access to vital health care services, particularly in rural and other medically underserved communities.</p><h3>Hold Commercial Health Plans Accountable</h3><p>Certain health plan practices threaten patient access to care, contribute to clinician burnout and add excessive administrative costs and burden to the health care system. Regulators should increase their oversight of health plans and implement a comprehensive simplification agenda, beginning with streamlining prior authorization requirements and processes and monitoring for abusive payment delays and denials. <strong>Urge Congress to pass the </strong><a href="/lettercomment/2024-06-12-aha-support-house-improving-seniors-timely-access-care-act"><strong>Improving Seniors Timely Access to Care Act</strong></a><strong> — bipartisan legislation that would streamline the prior authorization process in the Medicare Advantage program.</strong></p><h3>Permanently Adopt <a href="/system/files/media/file/2024/05/fact-sheet-2024-telehealth-advocacy-agenda.pdf"><span><u>Telehealth</u></span></a> and <a href="/system/files/media/file/2024/07/Fact-Sheet-Extending-the-Hospital-at-Home-Program-20240719.pdf"><span><u>Hospital-At-Home</u></span></a> Waivers</h3><p>During the public health emergency, Congress established a series of waivers expanding access for millions of Americans and increasing convenience in caring for patients. Telehealth holds tremendous potential to leverage geographically dispersed provider capacity to support patient demand. <strong>Congress should permanently adopt telehealth waivers and expand the telehealth workforce.</strong></p><p>Hospital-at-home programs are a safe, innovative way to care for patients in the comfort of their homes. With over 300 hospitals with hospital-at-home programs, many other hospitals and health systems indicate they are interested in developing programs for their communities but are reluctant to do so without congressional action. <strong>Urge Congress to pass the Hospital Inpatient Services Modernization Act (</strong><a href="/lettercomment/2024-05-23-aha-support-house-bill-hospital-inpatient-services-modernization-act-2024"><strong>H.R. 8260/S. 4350</strong></a><strong>), extending the hospital-at-home waiver for five years through 2029.</strong> The current waiver is set to expire Dec. 31, 2024.</p><h3>Protect America’s Health Care Workers</h3><p>Enactment of the <a href="/action-alert/2024-06-07-urge-congress-protect-health-care-workers-violence-passing-save-act">Safety from Violence for Healthcare Employees (SAVE) Act</a> (H.R. 2584/S. 2768) is a top priority for the AHA and the hospital field. This bipartisan bill would provide federal protections from workplace violence for hospital workers, similar to the protections in current law for airport and airline workers. <strong>Urge your lawmakers to cosponsor the bipartisan SAVE Act.</strong></p><h2>Further Questions</h2><p><strong>To support your efforts to communicate effectively with lawmakers and their staff, visit the </strong><a href="/advocacy/action-center"><strong>AHA Action Center</strong></a><strong> for more resources on these issues and other priorities important to hospitals and health systems.</strong></p><p>If you have further questions, please contact AHA at <a href="tel:1-800-424-4301">800-424-4301</a>.</p></div><div class="col-md-4"><p><a href="/system/files/media/file/2024/09/ACTION-NEEDED-Contact-Lawmakers-Now-on-Important-Issues-Facing-Hospitals-and-Health-Systems.pdf" target="_blank" title="Click here to download the Action Alert ACTION NEEDED: Contact Lawmakers Now on Important Issues Facing Hospitals and Health Systems PDF."><img src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/Page-1-ACTION-NEEDED-Contact-Lawmakers-Now-on-Important-Issues-Facing-Hospitals-and-Health-Systemsf.png" data-entity-uuid="2e8c2f84-9dc6-4e48-83ce-2eba6ca54423" data-entity-type="file" alt="ACTION NEEDED: Contact Lawmakers Now on Important Issues Facing Hospitals and Health Systems page 1." width="696" height="900"></a></p></div></div></div> Mon, 09 Sep 2024 16:30:00 -0500 Action Alert <div class="container"><div class="row"><div class="col-md-8"><p>Senators and representatives are in their home states and districts until Sept. 9, so now is an excellent time to meet with them and build support for the Safety from Violence for Healthcare Employees (SAVE) Act (H.R. 2584/S. 2768). This bipartisan bill would provide federal protections from workplace violence for hospital workers, similar to the protections in current law for airport and airline workers.</p><h2>TAKE ACTION</h2><p>Thanks to your grassroots advocacy, more than 120 members of Congress are now cosponsors of this critical legislation. Click <a href="/system/files/media/file/2024/06/Safety-from-Violence-for-Healthcare-Employees-SAVE-Act-HR-2584-S-2768-Co-sponsors.pdf" target="_blank">here</a> to see whether your legislators have signed on already.</p><p>If your legislators have cosponsored the bill, please thank them. If they have not signed on yet, please ask them to cosponsor to show widespread support as we push for enactment before the end of the 118th Congress.</p><p><strong>We have developed a </strong><a href="/2020-10-07-get-involved?vvsrc=%2fcampaigns%2f110987%2frespond%3fmkt_tok%3dNzEwLVpMTC02NTEAAAGRKX-ihY6idDOQJc8DSYoMQUpCn4QuaC4XEal-Tu54T_0pdR9ChS8he3l8jMSBpDGJ8KfFMmiFV5jlJSprcz4JWN2xA_Y9CYCuurMEUN68pKiuXA" target="_blank"><strong>sample message</strong></a><strong> you can personalize and send to your legislators asking them to cosponsor the bill. You also can share this link with members of your team and community so they can also send a message to lawmakers.</strong></p><p>In addition to urging support for the SAVE Act, please use this opportunity to talk with your lawmakers about other key priority issues for hospitals and health systems. See the July 31 <a href="/action-alert/2024-07-31-action-needed-talk-lawmakers-august-important-issues-facing-hospitals-and-health-systems" target="_blank">Action Alert</a> for more details and resources.</p><h2>RESOURCES TO SUPPORT YOUR ADVOCACY ON THE SAVE ACT</h2><p>As part of our advocacy efforts, the AHA has hosted two briefings for lawmakers and their staff on Capitol Hill, including <a href="/news/headline/2024-07-31-aha-briefing-sen-manchin-joins-health-care-leaders-urging-congress-pass-save-act" target="_blank">one last week</a>. We also have developed resources that you can use to highlight the need to pass the SAVE Act.</p><ul><li><a href="/fact-sheets/2023-04-19-fact-sheet-workplace-violence-and-intimidation-and-need-federal-legislative-response" target="_blank">Factsheet</a>.</li><li><a href="/system/files/media/file/2024/02/SAVE-act-content-draft-talking-points-f.pdf" target="_blank">Digital toolkit</a>.</li><li><a href="/infographics/2024-02-07-infographic-save-health-care-workers-workplace-violence" target="_blank">Infographic</a> with statistics on violence against health care workers.</li></ul><h2>FURTHER QUESTIONS</h2><p>Visit the AHA Action Center’s <a href="/advocacy/advocacy-issues/workplace-violence" target="_blank">Workplace Violence webpage</a> and the <a href="/hospitals-against-violence-havhope" target="_blank">Hospitals Against Violence webpage</a> for additional resources.</p></div><div class="col-md-4"><a href="/system/files/media/file/2024/08/action-needed-urge-congress-to-protect-health-care-workers-from-violence-by-supporting-the-save-act-alert-8-7-24.pdf" target="_blank"><img src="/sites/default/files/2024-08/image-action-needed-urge-congress-to-protect-health-care-workers-from-violence-by-supporting-the-save-act-alert-8-7-24.png" data-entity-uuid data-entity-type="file" alt=" Cover Action Alert: ACTION NEEDED: Urge Congress to Protect Health Care Workers from Violence by Supporting the SAVE Act " width="NaN" height="NaN"></a></div></div></div> Wed, 07 Aug 2024 08:43:44 -0500 Action Alert <div class="container"><div class="row"><div class="col-md-8"><p>When lawmakers return to Washington after the election, there will only be a few short weeks of legislating left before the end of the year — and many of hospitals’ most important issues are still on the table. </p><p>During the August recess, the field has a unique opportunity to engage with members of Congress in their home districts and states. It is essential that federal lawmakers understand the challenges hospitals and health systems face and what’s at stake for access to care for the patients and communities they represent. </p><p>While AHA makes the case in Washington, D.C., it’s critical that hospital and health system leaders reinforce these important messages back home. Your legislators listen to you because you live, work, vote and provide care in their communities. Lawmakers need to hear how congressional support is necessary to ensure hospitals can provide the 24/7 access to care patients and communities depend on. </p><h2>What You Can Do</h2><ul><li><strong>Contact</strong> your lawmakers and arrange conversations — either during Congress’ August recess or this fall — about the challenges your organization is facing and why additional support is needed.</li><li><strong>Invite</strong> your elected lawmakers to visit your hospital and use this opportunity to showcase some of the amazing work your organization does to support patients and communities. See <a href="/action-alert/2024-06-05-plan-august-summer-advocacy-success-begins-site-visit" target="_blank">AHA’s Action Alert</a> highlighting tools and resources to assist in your advocacy.</li><li><strong>Share</strong> this email with your government affairs and media relations staff, leadership team and governance board to ensure a cohesive narrative around issues impacting hospitals and health systems. Be prepared to give specific examples of what services could be at stake. </li></ul><h2>Areas of Focus and AHA Resources </h2><p><a href="/issue-landing-page/2023-09-11-advocacy-issue-site-neutral-payment-proposals" target="_blank" title="Site Neutral Payment Proposals page"><strong>Reject so-called site-neutral payment proposals</strong></a>. When Congress returns from recess, AHA expects to see continued efforts to push proposals that would enact additional site-neutral payment cuts. <u>Urge your lawmakers to oppose any site-neutral payment proposal</u>, as they would impose billions of dollars in additional Medicare payment cuts for services provided by hospital outpatient departments. It’s important to emphasize that these proposals would reduce patient access to vital health care services, particularly in rural and other medically underserved communities. </p><p><strong>Hold commercial health plans accountable</strong>. Certain health plan practices threaten patient access to care, contribute to clinician burnout, and add excessive administrative costs and burden to the health care system. Regulators should increase their oversight of health plans and implement a comprehensive simplification agenda, beginning with streamlining prior authorization requirements and processes and monitoring for abusive payment delays and denials. Urge Congress to pass the <a href="/lettercomment/2024-06-12-aha-support-house-improving-seniors-timely-access-care-act" target="_blank">Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act</a> — bipartisan legislation that would streamline the prior authorization process in the Medicare Advantage program.</p><p><strong>Prevent damaging cuts to hospitals</strong>. The <a href="/fact-sheets/2023-03-28-fact-sheet-medicaid-dsh-program" target="_blank">Medicaid disproportionate share hospital program</a> provides essential financial assistance to hospitals that care for our nation’s most vulnerable populations — children, impoverished, disabled and elderly. The Medicaid DSH payment reductions are scheduled to be implemented on Jan. 1, 2025, when $8 billion in reductions take effect. <u>Congress should provide relief from the Medicaid DSH cuts</u>. </p><p>In addition, <a href="/fact-sheets/2022-08-30-fact-sheet-rural-hospital-support-act-s4009-assistance-rural-community" target="_blank">Medicare-dependent hospital and enhanced low-volume adjustment programs</a> provide rural, geographically isolated and low-volume hospitals additional financial support to ensure rural residents have access to care. These programs are set to expire Dec. 31, 2024. <u>Congress should extend or make these critical rural programs permanent.</u> AHA member hospitals that participate in the MDH and/or LVA programs received an Alert with data on the impact to their organization if these programs expire. </p><p><strong>Permanently adopt </strong><a href="/system/files/media/file/2024/05/fact-sheet-2024-telehealth-advocacy-agenda.pdf" target="_blank" title="Teleheaalth information"><strong>telehealth</strong></a><strong> and </strong><a href="/system/files/media/file/2024/07/Fact-Sheet-Extending-the-Hospital-at-Home-Program-20240719.pdf" target="_blank"><strong>hospital-at-home</strong></a><strong> waivers</strong>. During the public health emergency, Congress established a series of waivers expanding access for millions of Americans and increasing convenience in caring for patients. Telehealth holds tremendous potential to leverage geographically dispersed provider capacity to support patient demand. <u>Congress should permanently adopt telehealth waivers and expand the telehealth workforce</u>. </p><p>Hospital-at-home programs are a safe, innovative way to care for patients in the comfort of their homes. With over 300 hospitals with hospital-at-home programs, many other hospitals and health systems indicate they are interested in developing programs for their communities but are reluctant to do so without congressional action. <u>Urge Congress to pass the Hospital Inpatient Services Modernization Act </u><a href="/lettercomment/2024-05-23-aha-support-house-bill-hospital-inpatient-services-modernization-act-2024" target="_blank"><u>(H.R. 8260/S. 4350)</u></a><u>, extending the hospital-at-home waiver for five years through 2029.</u> The current waiver is set to expire Dec. 31, 2024.</p><p><strong>Protect America’s health care workers</strong>. Enactment of the <a href="/action-alert/2024-06-07-urge-congress-protect-health-care-workers-violence-passing-save-act" target="_blank">Safety from Violence for Healthcare Employees (SAVE) Act</a> (H.R. 2584/S. 2768) is a top priority for the AHA and the hospital field. This bipartisan bill would provide federal protections from workplace violence for hospital workers, similar to the protections in current law for airport and airline workers.<u> Urge your lawmakers to cosponsor the bipartisan SAVE Act</u>. </p><h2>Further Questions </h2><p><strong>To support your efforts to communicate effectively with lawmakers and their staff, visit the </strong><a href="/advocacy/action-center" target="_blank"><strong>AHA Action Center</strong></a><strong> for more resources on these issues and other priorities important to hospitals and health systems. </strong></p><p>If you have further questions, please contact AHA at 800-424-4301.</p></div><div class="col-md-4"><a href="/system/files/media/file/2024/07/action-needed-talk-to-lawmakers-this-august-on-important-issues-facing-hospitals-and-health-systems-alert-7-31-2024.pdf" target="_blank"><img src="/sites/default/files/2024-07/cover-action-needed-talk-to-lawmakers-this-august-on-important-issues-facing-hospitals-and-health-systems-alert-7-31-2024.png" data-entity-uuid data-entity-type="file" alt=" Cover Action Alert: ACTION NEEDED: Talk to Lawmakers this August on Important Issues Facing Hospitals and Health Systems" width="NaN" height="NaN"></a></div></div></div> Wed, 31 Jul 2024 15:32:17 -0500 Action Alert <div class="container"><div class="row"><div class="col-md-8"><p>The AHA, through our Hospitals Against Violence initiative, seeks to increase awareness and address violence in communities and health care settings. #HAVHope unites in this effort hospitals, health systems, nurses, doctors and allied health professionals from across the country.</p><p><strong>Enactment of the Safety from Violence for Healthcare Employees (SAVE) Act (H.R. 2584/S. 2768) is a top priority for the AHA and the hospital field.</strong> This bipartisan bill would provide federal protections from workplace violence for hospital workers, similar to the protections in current law for airport and airline workers.</p><p>It’s important that we get as many senators and representatives as possible to show widespread support for the legislation.</p><p>Thanks to your grassroots advocacy, more than 100 members of Congress are now cosponsors of this critical legislation. Click <a href="/system/files/media/file/2024/06/Safety-from-Violence-for-Healthcare-Employees-SAVE-Act-HR-2584-S-2768-Co-sponsors.pdf" target="_blank">here</a> to see whether your legislators have signed on already.</p><h2>TAKE ACTION</h2><p>Please contact your senators and representatives now to urge them to cosponsor the SAVE Act. <strong>We have developed a sample message that you can send to your lawmakers by clicking </strong><a href="/2020-10-07-get-involved?vvsrc=%2fcampaigns%2f110987%2frespond%3fmkt_tok%3dNzEwLVpMTC02NTEAAAGRKX-ihY6idDOQJc8DSYoMQUpCn4QuaC4XEal-Tu54T_0pdR9ChS8he3l8jMSBpDGJ8KfFMmiFV5jlJSprcz4JWN2xA_Y9CYCuurMEUN68pKiuXA" target="_blank"><strong>here</strong></a><strong>.</strong> You also can share this link with members of your team and community so they can send a message as well.</p><h2>RESOURES TO SUPPORT YOUR ADVOCACY</h2><p>The AHA has developed resources that you can use to highlight the need to pass the SAVE Act and to spotlight your commitment to mitigate violence in your community and workplace.</p><ul><li><a href="/fact-sheets/2023-04-19-fact-sheet-workplace-violence-and-intimidation-and-need-federal-legislative-response" target="_blank">Factsheet</a>.</li><li><a href="/system/files/media/file/2024/02/SAVE-act-content-draft-talking-points-f.pdf" target="_blank">Digital toolkit for the SAVE Act</a>.</li><li><a href="https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/19MTN14idnUWHUq7_iqs0j11v0t_Af7Xe" target="_blank">Digital toolkit for HAVHope</a>.</li><li><a href="/infographics/2024-02-07-infographic-save-health-care-workers-workplace-violence" target="_blank">Infographic</a> with statistics on violence against health care workers.</li></ul><h2>FURTHER QUESTIONS</h2><p>Visit the AHA Action Center’s <a href="/advocacy/advocacy-issues/workplace-violence" target="_blank">Workplace Violence webpage</a> and the <a href="/hospitals-against-violence-havhope" target="_blank">Hospitals Against Violence webpage</a> for additional resources.</p></div><div class="col-md-4"><a href="/system/files/media/file/2024/06/urge-congress-to-protect-health-care-workers-from-violence-by-passing-the-save-act-alert-6-7-24.pdf" target="_blank"><img src="/sites/default/files/2024-06/cover-urge-congress-to-protect-health-care-workers-from-violence-by-passing-the-save-act-alert-6-7-24.png" data-entity-uuid data-entity-type="file" alt=" Cover Action Alert: Urge Congress to Protect Health Care Workers from Violence by Passing the SAVE Act" width="NaN" height="NaN"></a></div></div></div> Thu, 06 Jun 2024 23:19:04 -0500 Action Alert