/ en Fri, 25 Apr 2025 12:21:58 -0500 Wed, 16 Apr 25 16:02:11 -0500 /news/headline/2025-04-16-dozen-house-republicans-send-letter-opposing-medicaid-cuts <p>Twelve House Republicans April 14 sent a letter to House leadership voicing their opposition to potential Medicaid cuts. The lawmakers said they support “targeted reforms” to improve the program, but “will not support a final reconciliation bill that includes any reduction in Medicaid coverage for vulnerable populations.”</p><p>They noted that Medicaid cuts would also threaten the viability of hospitals and other care providers.</p><p>“Many hospitals — particularly in rural and underserved areas — rely heavily on Medicaid funding, with some receiving over half their revenue from the program alone,” the representatives wrote. “Providers in these areas are especially at risk of closure, with many unable to recover. When hospitals close, it affects all constituents, regardless of healthcare coverage.”</p><p>The letter was signed by Reps. David Valadao, R-Calif., Don Bacon, R-Neb., Jeff Van Drew, R-N.J., Rob Bresnahan Jr., R-Pa., Juan Ciscomani, R-Ariz., Jen Kiggans, R-Va., Young Kim, R-Calif., Robert Wittman, R-Va., Nicole Malliotakis, R-N.Y., Nick LaLota, R-N.Y., Andrew Garbarino, R-N.Y., and Jeff Hurd, R-Colo.</p> Wed, 16 Apr 2025 16:02:11 -0500 Medicaid /news/headline/2025-04-15-new-aha-resources-demonstrate-impacts-potential-medicaid-cuts-expiration-enhanced-premium-tax-credits <p>The AHA yesterday released two new resources highlighting the significance of Medicaid and the potential impacts if Congress makes cuts to the program. An <a href="/fact-sheets/2025-04-14-protect-access-care-reject-cuts-medicaid-program-and-premium-hikes-working-families" title="infographic">infographic</a> demonstrates the national impact on hospitals and individuals if Medicaid cuts are implemented and enhanced premium tax credits expire, and a new <a href="/fact-sheets/2025-04-14-whats-stake-medicaid-covers-people-you-know" title="fact sheet">fact sheet</a> shows the makeup of Medicaid coverage nationwide and what’s at stake for patients and communities. </p> Tue, 15 Apr 2025 14:51:58 -0500 Medicaid <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 Medicaid /fact-sheets/2025-04-14-whats-stake-medicaid-covers-people-you-know <div class="container"><div class="row"><div class="col-md-8"><p><a href="/system/files/media/file/2025/04/Whats-at-Stake-Medicaid-covers-the-people-you-know.pdf" target="_blank" title="Click here to download the What's at Stake: Medicaid covers the people you know PDF."><img src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/Whats-at-Stake-Medicaid-covers-the-people-you-know.png" data-entity-uuid="01c577ea-dcda-41cc-8c50-1f1e1bfd8db4" data-entity-type="file" alt="What's at Stake: Medicaid covers the people you know. The majority of U.S. residents with Medicaid coverage are children. 39% of children are covered by Medicaid. Medicaid protects access to care for rural communities. Among Medicaid beneficiaries, 47% of children and 18% of adults live in rural communities. Medicaid supports access to essential obstetrics care, behavioral health services, and primary care. 41% of births in the U.S. are covered by Medicaid. Medicaid provides access to care for low-income seniors. 13.7 million seniors in the U.S. are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid. Fact: Medicaid chronically underpays for services. Without supplemental payments, Medicaid fee-for-services payments nationally paid 58 cents for every dollar that hospitals spend caring for Medicaid patients, and Medicaid managed care organizations paid 65 cents. Protect Access to Care: The AHA urges Congress to reject reductions to the Medicaid program that would threaten health care access for patients." width="695" height="900"></a></p></div><div class="col-md-4"><div class="external-link spacer"><a class="btn btn-wide btn-primary" href="/system/files/media/file/2025/04/Whats-at-Stake-Medicaid-covers-the-people-you-know.pdf" target="_blank" title="Click here to download the What's at Stake: Medicaid covers the people you know PDF.">Download the Infographic PDF</a></div></div></div></div> Mon, 14 Apr 2025 10:42:17 -0500 Medicaid /fact-sheets/2025-04-14-protect-access-care-reject-cuts-medicaid-program-and-premium-hikes-working-families <div class="container"><div class="row"><div class="col-md-8"><p><a href="/system/files/media/file/2025/04/Protect-Access-to-Care-Reject-cuts-to-the-Medicaid-program-and-premium-hikes-on-working-families.pdf" target="_blank" title="Click here to download the Protect Access to Care: Reject cuts to the Medicaid program and premium hikes on working families PDF."><img src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/Protect-Access-to-Care-Reject-cuts-to-the-Medicaid-program-and-premium-hikes-on-working-families.png" data-entity-uuid="c001b8d1-d304-46e2-900b-524456f65c4c" data-entity-type="file" alt="Protect Access to Care: Reject cuts to the Medicaid program and premium hikes on working families. If Congress cuts Medicaid, hospitals would see significant imparts that vary by policy: Per Capita Caps for All Medicaid Population: 1-Year National Hospital Impact in 2026 -$47.6 billion; 10-Year National Hospital Impact through 2024: -$468.1 billion. Per Capita Caps for Expansion Population: 1-Year National Hospital Impact in 2026 -$18.9 billion; 10-Year National Hospital Impact through 2024: -$199.9 billion. Eliminate Enhanced FMAP for Expansion Population: 1-Year National Hospital Impact in 2026 -$32 billion; 10-Year National Hospital Impact through 2024: -$360.6 billion. Reduce FMAP Statutory Floor to 45%: 1-Year National Hospital Impact in 2026 -$7.3 billion; 10-Year National Hospital Impact through 2024: -$78.4 billion. Limit Provider Taxes to 5%: 1-Year National Hospital Impact in 2026 -$3 billion; 10-Year National Hospital Impact through 2024: -$32.8 billion. If the Enhanced Premium Tax Credits (EPTCs) expire: 2.2 million individuals are at risk of becoming uninsured in 2026; 4 million individuals are facing higher costs due to loss of Marketplace coverage in 2026; $705 average per person increase in annual premiums in 2026; -$28.2 billion reduction in spending on hospitals over 10 years." width="695" height="900"></a></p></div><div class="col-md-4"><div class="external-link spacer"><a class="btn btn-wide btn-primary" href="/system/files/media/file/2025/04/Protect-Access-to-Care-Reject-cuts-to-the-Medicaid-program-and-premium-hikes-on-working-families.pdf" target="_blank" title="Click here to download the Protect Access to Care: Reject cuts to the Medicaid program and premium hikes on working families PDF.">Download the Infographic PDF</a></div></div></div></div> Mon, 14 Apr 2025 10:10:24 -0500 Medicaid /news/headline/2025-04-11-cms-notifies-states-it-will-not-approve-or-match-funds-designated-state-health-investment-programs <p>The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services April 10 <a href="https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/cms-refocuses-its-core-mission-and-preserving-state-federal-medicaid-partnership">announced</a> that it does not intend to approve new or extend existing requests for federal funds to match state expenditures on designated state health and designated state investment programs. CMS said its aim is to end Medicaid spending that is duplicative of other federal funding sources or is not directly tied to health care services. </p> Fri, 11 Apr 2025 14:44:43 -0500 Medicaid /news/perspective/2025-04-11-we-must-urge-congress-protect-access-medicaid-patient-care-and-247-hospital-services <p>Congressional lawmakers are heading home for a two-week district work period after both the Senate and House passed a revised budget resolution for fiscal year 2025, allowing the chambers to move forward with the <a href="/issue-landing-page/2025-02-07-budget-reconciliation-process-resource-page" target="_blank" title="Reconciliation Process">reconciliation process</a> and begin drafting the specific policies that will be included in the reconciliation bill. This is where the hard work begins.</p><p>The revised resolution still includes instructions for the House Energy and Commerce Committee to cut spending by $880 billion, which means cuts to Medicaid and other health programs are very much still on the table.</p><p>However, this week’s budget action is another step in a long process and no specifics on anything have been decided. It’s important to note that the House Energy and Commerce Committee includes broad jurisdiction over many sectors of the economy beyond health care, and the Senate seems inclined to take a more modest approach. In the meantime, we have been building momentum with lawmakers and the public to demonstrate that devastating cuts to the Medicaid program — and the 72 million individuals who rely on it for coverage — should not be used to pay for the reconciliation bill.</p><p>We can use the next two weeks while representatives and senators are in their districts and states to drive this point home and explain how significant cuts to Medicaid would stress the availability of health care services for everyone and jeopardize access to the 24/7 care and services that hospitals provide.</p><p><strong>New Polling Shows Widespread Support for Medicaid.</strong> New <a href="https://modernmedicaid.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/MMA-Poll-Memo-4-2-25.pdf" target="_blank" title="New polls show widespread support for Medicaid">polling</a> released this week from President Trump’s 2024 pollster showed that 74% of all voters and 61% of Trump voters have a favorable view of Medicaid. In addition, 70% of total voters, including a majority of Trump voters, opposed cutting Medicaid to pay for tax cuts. “Our recent survey shows there is no appetite across the political spectrum for cutting Medicaid to pay for tax cuts,” the poll memo said. “Medicaid is well-liked by most voters, in large part due to the broad impact it has across the electorate and the high level of importance voters place on as many Americans as possible having health insurance.”</p><p><strong>Advocacy Resources and Advertising.</strong> The AHA continues to share new resources that hospitals and health systems can use to assist their advocacy efforts. Visit our <a href="/advocacy/advocacy-issues/medicaid" target="_blank" title="Medicaid Advocacy webpage">Medicaid advocacy webpage</a> for fact sheets, blogs pushing back on misguided reports and other resources you can use in conversations with your lawmakers. And watch for an Action Alert soon with additional resources.</p><p>At the same time, the <a href="https://strengthenhealthcare.org/" target="_blank" title="Coalition to Strengthen America's Healthcare">Coalition to Strengthen America’s Healthcare</a>, of which the AHA is a founding member, continues to run its <a href="https://strengthenhealthcare.org/coalition-launches-national-ad-campaign-to-protect-medicaid-patients-from-cuts-to-care/" target="_blank" title="Faces of Medicaid national ad compaign">Faces of Medicaid</a> national ad campaign that highlights Medicaid’s critical impact on the tens of millions of people who rely on the program for access to care. During the last two weeks, the Coalition launched two new ads, “<a href="https://strengthenhealthcare.org/coalition-launches-national-ad-highlighting-president-trumps-promises-to-protect-medicaid/" target="_blank" title="Coalition to Strengthen America’s Healthcare Promises Ad">Promises</a>,” which underscores President Trump’s public commitments about protecting Medicaid and Medicare and calls on Congress not to cut Medicaid, and “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAglo-JZzdY&t=1s" target="_blank" title="Coalition to Strengthen America’s Healthcare 30 Million ad">30 Million</a>,” focusing on Medicaid coverage for children. The ads are running on national cable and digitally. In addition, the Coalition continues to engage its 2.6 million advocates in a grassroots campaign to send letters, make phone calls and send social media posts to their legislators urging them to protect access to care and services.</p><p><strong>Make Your Voices Heard.</strong> While the AHA and Coalition provide the air cover in Washington, nothing is more powerful than your voice — and the voices of your team members, trustees, patients and community members — with your senators and representatives. You live, work and, most importantly, vote in their districts and states. You have their attention and can explain to them the impact policy proposals would have for their constituents and your ability to provide care. Please take advantage of your legislators being home and highlight for them the need to protect Medicaid and access to the 24/7 services that hospitals and health systems provide.</p><p>In addition, if you haven’t done so yet, there’s still time to make plans to join nearly 1,000 hospital and health system leaders for the <a href="/education-events/2025-aha-annual-membership-meeting" target="_blank" title="AHA Annual Membership Meeting">AHA’s Annual Membership Meeting</a> May 4-6 in Washington, D.C. You’ll hear directly from legislators, policymakers and thought leaders, as well as have the opportunity to go to Capitol Hill to deliver our field’s message about protecting access to care and services, providing relief from burdensome regulations and policies, and strengthening and supporting the health care workforce.</p><p>We’ve seen time and time again when our field speaks with a strong and united voice, lawmakers hear us. And we get results. That unity will be more important than ever over the next few weeks and months as we stand up for patients to protect access to the care that hospitals and health systems provide in every community across America.</p> Fri, 11 Apr 2025 08:25:31 -0500 Medicaid /news/headline/2025-04-10-coalition-ad-highlights-impacts-potential-medicaid-cuts-children <p>The Coalition to Strengthen America’s Healthcare today launched a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAglo-JZzdY&t=1s" title="Coalition ad">new television and digital advertisement</a> as part of its Medicaid campaign. The ad highlights the impacts Medicaid cuts would have on the more than 30 million children who rely on the program for care. Viewers are called on to urge Congress not to cut Medicaid funding.   <br>   <br>The AHA is a founding member of the Coalition.</p> Thu, 10 Apr 2025 14:39:27 -0500 Medicaid <div class="container"><div classs="row"><div class="col-md-8"><p>Early this morning, the Senate by a vote of 51 to 48 passed its <a href="https://www.budget.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/senate_amendment_h_con_res_14.pdf" target="_blank" title="Senate.gov: H.Con.Res.14">revised budget resolution</a> for fiscal year 2025 with Sens. Rand Paul, R-Ky., and Susan Collins, R-Maine, voting with Democrats in opposition.</p><p>During the six-hour “vote-a-rama session,” Sen. Ron Wyden, R-Ore., offered an amendment to strike the instructions for the House Energy & Commerce Committee to cut spending by $880 billion, citing his concerns around potential cuts to the Medicaid program. The amendment was not agreed to by a vote of 49-50. Three Republicans, Sens. Collins, Josh Hawley, R-Mo., and Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, voted in favor of the amendment along with Senate Democrats.</p><p>The House is expected to consider the revised resolution next week. This marks the next step toward reaching a common budget resolution that will allow Congress to move forward with the <a href="/issue-landing-page/2025-02-07-budget-reconciliation-process-resource-page">reconciliation process</a>.</p><p>The resolution is drafted to provide flexibility to Senate and House Committees when they begin drafting their individual bills. As is customary, the budget resolution does not provide details on potential cuts to Medicaid or Medicare, as well as the extension of the Enhanced Premium Tax Credits (EPTCs).</p><h2>Key Highlights of the Budget Resolution</h2><h3>Debt Ceiling</h3><p>The resolution includes instructions to allow Congress to increase the debt limit. The House Ways & Means Committee instruction is $4 trillion, and the Senate Finance Committee’s is $5 trillion.</p><h3>Tax Policy</h3><p>The resolution assumes a budget mechanism called “current policy baseline” to set up a pathway toward making the tax cuts within the Tax Cuts & Jobs Act (TCJA) permanent.</p><h3>Preserves House Instructions</h3><ul><li>The House Ways & Means Committee is instructed to increase deficits by not more than $4.5 trillion (TCJA extension).</li><li>The House Energy and Commerce Committee is instructed to reduce deficits by not less than $880 billion. The Energy and Commerce Committee has primary jurisdiction over Medicaid and other health care programs.</li><li>The resolution reflects the desire of the House-passed budget resolution to reach $2 trillion in spending cuts.</li></ul><h3>Adds Senate Health Committee Instructions</h3><ul><li>The Senate Finance Committee is instructed to increase deficits by not more than $1.5 trillion (TCJA extension and other tax policy).</li><li>The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee is instructed to reduce deficits by not less than $1 billion. This is a change from the Senate’s original previous budget resolution. The HELP Committee has jurisdiction over measures relating to education, labor, health and public welfare.</li></ul><h3>Deadline for Committees</h3><p>The budget resolution gives Senate and House committees a May 9 deadline to report legislation, but this is not a binding deadline.</p><h2>Next Steps</h2><p>The resolution now moves to the House for consideration next week. Congressional leaders hope to complete work on the budget resolution before leaving for their two-week April recess (April 14-25).</p><p>Once both chambers have passed the budget resolution, committees that have received instructions in the budget resolution will begin drafting the reconciliation bill.</p><h2>AHA Take</h2><p>As the Senate and House forge ahead on the fiscal year 2025 budget resolution and reconciliation process, the AHA continues to urge Congress to take seriously the impact of reductions in health care programs, particularly Medicaid. We ask Congress to construct a path forward that protects Medicaid and patients from harmful cuts that would impact access to care for millions of Americans. The AHA will continue to keep the field updated on the latest developments and action needed.</p><h2>Resources on Protecting Medicaid, Other Health Programs</h2><p>The AHA continues to develop and share resources with hospitals and health systems on the importance of protecting Medicaid and other health programs. Please visit our <a href="/advocacy/action-center">Action Center</a> for a host of resources on key advocacy issues. In addition, the Coalition to Strengthen America’s Healthcare, of which the AHA is a founding member, continues to run advertising, share digital resources and engage in grassroots activity on the importance of protecting Medicaid. See the <a href="https://strengthenhealthcare.org/" target="_blank" title="Coalition to Strengthen America's Healthcare homepage">Coalition website</a> for the latest advertising and resources.</p><h2>Further Questions</h2><p>If you have further questions, please contact Rachel Jenkins, AHA senior associate director of federal relations, at <a href="mailto:rjenkins@aha.org?subject=RE: Special Bulletin: Senate Passes Revised Budget Resolution">rjenkins@aha.org</a>.</p></div><div class="col-md-4"><p><a href="/system/files/media/file/2025/04/Special-Bulletin-Senate-Passes-Revised-Budget-Resolution-20250405.pdf" target="_blank" title="Click here to download the Special Bulletin: Senate Passes Revised Budget Resolution PDF"><img src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/Page-1-Special-Bulletin-Senate-Passes-Revised-Budget-Resolution-20250405.png" data-entity-uuid="457fa1ef-79fd-44b7-9ca9-266f7310196e" data-entity-type="file" alt="Special Bulletin: Senate Passes Revised Budget Resolution page 1." width="690" height="900"></a></p></div></div></div> Sat, 05 Apr 2025 10:50:00 -0500 Medicaid /news/headline/2025-04-03-aha-blog-responds-misguided-reports-medicaid-financing <p>The AHA April 3 published a blog responding to recent reports by Paragon Health Institute on Medicaid financing and provider payment. <br> <br>“We discourage anyone from trusting attacks on state Medicaid programs that call for unjustifiable federal funding cuts to Medicaid at the expense of Medicaid patients and our communities as a way to finance tax cuts for the wealthy,” write Ashley Thompson, AHA senior vice president, and Krista Geier, AHA senior associate director of Medicaid policy. <a href="/news/blog/2025-04-03-cuts-state-medicaid-finance-methods-would-limit-access-care-everyone">READ MORE</a></p> Thu, 03 Apr 2025 16:02:30 -0500 Medicaid