Advocacy & Public Policy

Advocacy & Public Policy / en Fri, 25 Apr 2025 18:03:12 -0500 Fri, 18 Apr 25 09:25:52 -0500 All Eyes on Washington and All Voices Speaking Up to Protect Access to Care /news/perspective/2025-04-18-all-eyes-washington-and-all-voices-speaking-protect-access-care Just 16 days from now, more than 1,000 hospital and health system leaders from across the country will arrive in Washington, D.C., for the <a href="https://annualmeeting.aha.org" target="_blank" title="2025 AHA Annual Membership Meeting">2025 AHA Annual Membership Meeting</a>.&nbsp;Every year, this important gathering puts specific issues into focus as we discuss the best ways to fulfill our mission of advancing health. This year, it’s an understatement to say the stakes are extremely high as Congress is in the middle of considering legislation that could significantly jeopardize access to patient care across the country and further challenge hospitals’ ability to deliver the care and services that our nation depends on.&nbsp;To help our members navigate the shifting landscape and dynamics on Capitol Hill, we’ve built a program highlighted by nationally recognized speakers who are influential in the administration and Congress, as well as special forums that bring together strategic ideas and relevant research with thought leaders driving policy on the biggest issues affecting our field.On the House side, we’ll hear from lawmakers who serve on the important Energy and Commerce Committee, including Reps. Buddy Carter, R-Ga., who chairs its Subcommittee on Health; Robin Kelly, D-Ill., who likewise serves on the Subcommittee on Health and is a member of the House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee, which sets the policy direction of the Democratic Caucus; and Kim Schrier, D-Wash., who is the first pediatrician elected to Congress. Energy and Commerce is the all-important committee where the focus will be on major Medicaid cuts. We’ll also hear from Rep. Nathaniel Moran, R-Texas, a member of the Ways and Means Committee, which has jurisdiction over Medicare and tax policies, and Rep. Mike Flood, R-Neb. Moran and Flood are respectively executive board member and vice chair of the Republican Main Street Caucus, a solutions-focused group of 80-plus conservative members. Also joining us is Rep. Brad Schneider, D-Ill., chair of the New Democratic Coalition, the largest Democratic caucus in the House and focused on pro-economic growth and fiscal responsibility. On the Senate side, we’ll hear from Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso, R-Wyo., as well as a panel with two key freshman senators: Elissa Slotkin,&nbsp;D-Mich., and Jon Husted, R-Ohio.In addition, Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services Chief of Staff and Deputy Administrator Stephanie Carlton and CMS Deputy Administrator and Chief Policy and Regulatory Officer John Brooks will join us for a special conversation about the agency’s health priorities.We’ll also gain insights from a number of advisers to President Donald Trump, such as Kellyanne Conway,&nbsp;former senior counselor to President Trump, who will discuss “Shifting Voices: Changes in Political Communications,” and Chris LaCivita, senior adviser and co-campaign manager of the Trump 2024 Presidential Campaign.&nbsp;We’ll do a deep dive into economic issues, including the impact of tariffs, with Douglas Holtz-Eakin, former director of the Congressional Budget Office, who will lead a discussion on “Decoding the Fiscal Cliff:&nbsp;Economic &amp; Fiscal Policy Outlook”&nbsp;&nbsp;with panelists Rana Foroohar, CNN’s global economic analyst, Lanhee Chen, a Hoover Institution Fellow in American public policy studies and former advisor to Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign, and Jason Furman, former chair of the Council of Economic Advisers under President Barack Obama.We’ll hear from people making and breaking news, as well as providing insight on “Navigating the New Political Landscape,” a discussion featuring Jonathan Martin, politics bureau chief at Politico, Leigh Ann Caldwell, chief Washington correspondent&nbsp; for Puck News, and Jake Sherman,&nbsp;co-founder of Punchbowl News.&nbsp; We’ll have insightful conversations with Hoda Kotb, former “Today Show” co-anchor, who will participate in the AHA’s luncheon recognizing award-winning leaders in our field. Interested attendees can join Eugene Daniels, senior Washington correspondent for MSNBC and president of the White House Correspondents Association, for a Government Relations Officers Network Lunch. And we’re pleased to be joined by retired four-star Gen. Stanley McCrystal, who wrote about his leadership experience in Iraq in 2004 in “Team of Teams: New Rules of Engagement for a Complex Field.”Throughout the conference, we have dynamic sessions featuring top leaders in our field and in the administration discussing post-acute care, rural health care and governance, just to name a few. It’s a very full agenda, but we’ve also built in time for you to connect with colleagues from across the country and have those personal connections that we know are so valuable.The Annual Membership Meeting comes at a critical time as key congressional committees, including the House Energy and Commerce Committee, could begin marking up reconciliation legislation with the potential for significant cuts to the Medicaid program.The timing provides a great opportunity for your visit to Capitol Hill to drive home several key messages. Those include protecting access to care by rejecting cuts to Medicaid, additional so-called site-neutral payments and harmful changes to the 340B program. At the same time, we need to extend the enhanced premium tax credits that help millions of Americans have access to affordable private insurance. We also will talk about ways to provide relief from burdensome regulations and policies that inhibit care and increase costs, as well as opportunities to strengthen and support the health care workforce.Earlier this week, we shared an <a href="/action-alert/2025-04-14-take-action-urge-lawmakers-reject-medicaid-cuts-protect-access-care" target="_blank" title="Advocacy Action Alert PDF">Advocacy Action Alert</a> asking hospital leaders to meet with their senators and representatives to explain to them how cuts to Medicaid and other programs would reduce access to care and services for patients in their communities. We also provided new infographics and resources to support your advocacy efforts.We’ll continue to keep the field updated on the latest from Capitol Hill, and the Annual Membership Meeting will be another opportunity for us to stand up and speak out to protect access to the care that hospitals and health systems provide across America.If you haven’t registered yet, please consider joining us in Washington May 4-6. And if you can’t be in Washington, please continue delivering that message to your representatives and senators throughout the year.In the words of AHA’s 2025 Board Chair, Tina Freese Decker, “When we work together, we speak with a voice that is loud, clear and effective. Because we are here to care for the neighbors in our communities no matter what headwinds we face.” Fri, 18 Apr 2025 09:25:52 -0500 Advocacy & Public Policy Chair File: Resources for Navigating Transformation and Change /news/chairpersons-file/2025-04-14-resources-navigating-transformation-and-change This is an incredibly dynamic and transformative time for health care. One resource I have found incredibly helpful in speaking with many of you and engaging in strategic discussions are the <a href="/type/fact-sheets" target="_blank" title="Key Issues Fact Sheets">fact sheets</a> provided by the AHA. These concise, simple documents offer a wealth of information around key issues, what the AHA is doing and why, and how you can engage with these efforts.There are likely to be substantial changes in health care policy during the new administration, and these fact sheets are great tools for advocating with your legislators and understanding the implications on the financial sustainability of our hospitals and health systems. Topics include enhanced premium tax credits, Medicaid, site-neutral payments, 340B drug pricing and more.The AHA is focused on addressing these challenges head on with Congress, the administration, regulatory bodies and the courts to shape policy that advances our long-term viability and efforts to provide quality patient care. Our&nbsp;<a href="/advocacy-agenda" target="_blank" title="2025 Advocacy Agenda">2025 Advocacy Agenda</a> is focused on:<ul><li>Ensuring access to care.</li><li>Strengthening the health care workforce.</li><li>Advancing quality and health care system resiliency.</li><li>Leading innovation in care delivery.</li><li>Reducing health care system costs for patient care.</li></ul>We will be talking about these key advocacy priorities and pressing issues facing our field at the&nbsp;<a href="https://annualmeeting.aha.org/" target="_blank" title="AHA Annual Membership Meeting">AHA Annual Membership Meeting</a> May 4-6 in Washington, D.C. I hope to connect with many of you there as we engage in insightful conversations with policymakers, legislators and thought leaders.Each of us has influence to use on behalf of our patients, caregivers and communities, and every vote matters. Together as a field, we have the power to make a difference. When we work together, we speak with a voice that is loud, clear and effective. Because we are here to care for the neighbors in our communities no matter what headwinds we face.Helping You Help Communities: Key AHA Resources<ul><li><a href="/type/fact-sheets" target="_blank" title="AHA Fact Sheets">AHA Fact Sheets</a></li><li><a href="/advocacy-agenda" target="_blank" title="2025 Advocacy Agenda">2025 Advocacy Agenda</a></li><li><a href="/advocacy-issues" target="_blank" title="Advocacy Issues and Resources">Advocacy Issues and Resources</a>&nbsp;</li><li><a href="https://annualmeeting.aha.org/" target="_blank" title="AHA Annual Membership Meeting Webpage">2025 AHA Annual Membership Meeting</a></li></ul> Mon, 14 Apr 2025 11:14:43 -0500 Advocacy & Public Policy Senate Unveils Amendment to House Budget Resolution with Vote Expected This Week <div class="container"><div class="row"><div class="col-md-8">Senate Budget Committee Chair Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., April 2 released the <a href="https://www.budget.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/senate_amendment_h_con_res_14.pdf?mkt_tok=NzEwLVpMTC02NTEAAAGZl8RTAeR77E_lSejQRLXuYl1AOsKjOdJI0nU2PMfXA8wXmmXVYF7CcZk5tv11NHb3ujccKHrsSVucOEOWX58ycMOSAOS21R7ZAFkGPAKzprtG7Q" target="_blank">Senate's amendment</a> to the House budget resolution for fiscal year 2025. 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" target="_blank">reconciliation process</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;The amendment 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).<h2>Key Highlights of the Budget Resolution</h2>Debt Ceiling: The resolution includes instructions to allow Congress to increase the debt limit. The House Ways &amp; Means Committee instruction is $4 trillion, and the Senate Finance Committee’s is $5 trillion.Tax Policy:&nbsp;The resolution assumes a budget mechanism called “current policy baseline” to set up a pathway toward making the tax cuts within the Tax Cuts &amp; Jobs Act (TCJA) permanent.Preserves House Instructions:<ul><li>The House Ways &amp; 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>Adds Senate Health Committee Instructions:<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 &nbsp;Senate’s original previous budget resolution. The HELP Committee has jurisdiction over measures relating to education, labor, health and public welfare.</li></ul>Deadline for Committees: The budget resolution gives Senate and House committees a May 9 deadline to report legislation, but this is not a binding deadline.<h2>Next Steps</h2>The Senate is expected to begin consideration of the budget resolution as soon as tonight. We anticipate the Senate to potentially work into the weekend processing amendments prior to a final vote. Health-related amendments are expected, particularly around Medicaid and EPTCs. We will be monitoring these developments.If the revised resolution passes the Senate, it will move 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).Once both chambers have passed the budget resolution, committees that have received instructions in the budget resolution will begin drafting the reconciliation bill.<h2>AHA Take</h2>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.<h2>Resources on Protecting Medicaid, Other Health Programs</h2>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&nbsp;<a href="/advocacy/action-center" target="_blank">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 Coalition&nbsp;<a href="https://strengthenhealthcare.org/" target="_blank">website</a> for the latest advertising and resources.<h2>Further Questions</h2>If you have further questions, please contact Rachel Jenkins, AHA senior associate director of federal relations, at <a href="mailto:rjenkins@aha.org">rjenkins@aha.org</a>.&nbsp;</div><div class="col-md-4"><a href="/system/files/media/file/2025/04/senate-unveils-amendment-to-house-budget-resolution-with-vote-expected-this-week-bulletin-4-3-2025.pdf"><img src="/sites/default/files/2025-04/cover-senate-unveils-amendment-to-house-budget-resolution-with-vote-expected-this-week-bulletin-4-3-2025.png" data-entity-uuid data-entity-type="file" alt="Special Bulletin Cover Image" width="640" height="833"></a></div></div></div> Thu, 03 Apr 2025 16:02:35 -0500 Advocacy & Public Policy Trump Administration Unveils New Tariff Plan <div class="container"><div class="row"><div class="col-md-8">The White House April 2 issued an <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/04/regulating-imports-with-a-reciprocal-tariff-to-rectify-trade-practices-that-contribute-to-large-and-persistent-annual-united-states-goods-trade-deficits/" target="_blank" title="April 2nd Executive Order">executive order</a> implementing a comprehensive new tariff plan. The plan imposes a 10% universal tariff on imported goods from all countries beginning April 5, and reciprocal tariffs on certain countries&nbsp;with which the U.S. has&nbsp;high trade deficits beginning April 9. Additional information can be found in the White House <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2025/04/fact-sheet-president-donald-j-trump-declares-national-emergency-to-increase-our-competitive-edge-protect-our-sovereignty-and-strengthen-our-national-and-economic-security/" target="_blank" title="White House Taffif Fact sheet">fact sheet</a>.With a stated purpose of addressing “large and persistent annual U.S. goods trade deficits” driven by “the absence of reciprocity in [U.S.] trade relationships,” the executive order declares a national emergency under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977. The tariff plan includes three key components:<ul><li>Universal tariff. Beginning April 5, the administration will impose a 10% universal tariff on the value of goods imported from all countries.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li>Country-specific universal tariffs. Starting April 9, the administration will levy reciprocal tariffs on countries with which the U.S. has significant trade deficits. <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Annex-I.pdf" target="_blank" title="List of country specific reciprocal tariff rtates">Annex I</a> of the executive order includes the list of country-specific reciprocal tariff rates; the rates in the table reflect the inclusion of the 10% universal tariff.</li><li>Modification authority.&nbsp;The executive order enables the administration to increase reciprocal tariff rates on those countries that implement retaliatory measures. The administration could also decrease the rates for countries that “take significant steps to remedy non-reciprocal trading arrangements and align with the United States on economic and national security matters.”</li></ul>The tariffs will remain in effect until the president “determines that the threat posed by the trade deficit and underlying nonreciprocal treatment is satisfied, resolved, or mitigated.”The executive order <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Annex-II.pdf" target="_blank" title="Goods exempt from reciproca tariffs">exempts</a> some goods from reciprocal tariffs, including pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, copper, steel/aluminum articles, and energy and certain other minerals that are not available in the United States, but does not exempt them from the universal 10% tariff. In addition, the administration’s previously announced tariff <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2025/02/fact-sheet-president-donald-j-trump-imposes-tariffs-on-imports-from-canada-mexico-and-china/" target="_blank" title="tariff plans for Canada and Mexico">plans</a> for Canada and Mexico are not affected by this executive order.In a <a href="/system/files/media/file/2025/02/AHA-Urges-Administration-to-Grant-Exceptions-for-Tariffs-for-Medications-and-Medical-Supplies.pdf" target="_blank" title="AHA letter to the Administration Feb. 4">letter to the administration</a> Feb. 4, the AHA expressed concern that the administration’s use of tariffs may “inadvertently put others’ lives at risk by jeopardizing the availability of vital medications and essential health care devices.” The AHA went on to request exceptions for medical devices, pharmaceuticals and products already in short supply.The AHA continues to review the details of the tariff plan to assess its impacts on our members and will work with the administration on ensuring the availability of the drugs, devices and supplies that hospitals and health systems need to serve their communities.<h2>AHA Take</h2>AHA President and CEO Rick Pollack said in a statement, “In America’s hospitals and health systems, the dedication and skill of our care teams come together each day with a vast array of medicines, devices and other supplies to deliver the best care possible. The lives of our patients often depend on the ready availability of things ranging from blood pressure cuffs and surgical instruments to life-saving cancer drugs and antibiotics. The well-being and safety of our caregivers also depend on protective equipment like masks, gloves and respirators.“Last night, the administration released an executive order implementing a comprehensive new tariff plan. We share the Trump administration’s goal of strengthening domestic supply chains for these essential medical products. At the same time, patient care often depends on the availability of internationally sourced devices and treatments. We appreciate that the administration has exempted pharmaceuticals from reciprocal tariffs. However, we strongly urge the administration to consider tariff exemptions for medical devices. It is especially critical to have exceptions for medical products already in shortage and for which production in countries subject to the increased tariffs supplies a significant part of the U.S. market.“The AHA continues to review the details of the tariff plan to assess its impacts on hospitals and health systems. We stand ready to work with the administration and all stakeholders on ensuring the availability of the drugs, devices and supplies that hospitals and health systems need to serve their communities.”<h2>Additional Information on Executive Actions</h2>As the Trump administration continues to issue executive orders and administrative actions on many issues, the AHA is compiling them in its <a href="http://www.aha.org/eotracker" target="_blank" title="AHA tracker of executive actions.">tracker</a> of actions for hospitals and health systems. The tracker will be updated regularly as new actions are released.<h2>Further Questions</h2>If you have further questions, please contact the AHA at 800-424-4301.</div><div class="col-md-4"><a href="/system/files/media/file/2025/04/trump-administration-unveils-new-tariff-plan-advisory-4-3-2025.pdf"><img src="/sites/default/files/2025-04/cover-image-trump-administration-unveils-new-tariff-plan-advisory-4-3-2025.png" data-entity-uuid data-entity-type="file" alt="Member Advisory: Trump Administration Unveils New Tariff Plan PDF" width="NaN" height="NaN"></a></div></div></div> Thu, 03 Apr 2025 15:58:36 -0500 Advocacy & Public Policy Leadership Dialogue /leadership-dialogue <div class="container"><div class="row"><div class="col-md-8"><img src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/leadership-dialogue-freese-decker-wightman-900x400.jpg" data-entity-uuid="050ab622-3282-4178-a8e8-8b9dfdc90207" data-entity-type="file" alt="Tina Freese Decker headshot. Leadership Dialogue. A conversation with AHA Chair Tina Freese Decker and Lori Wightman, R.N., CEO of Bothwell Regional Health Center." width="900" height="400">In this episode, Tina Freese Decker, 2025 chair of the AHA Board of Trustees, talks with Lori Wightman, R.N., CEO of Bothwell Regional Health Center, in Sedalia, Mo., about the challenges that rural hospitals and health systems face.Freese Decker and Wightman discuss working in a “family atmosphere” unique to a rural hospital and navigating the same pressures that face urban hospitals, including workforce shortages and the high costs of labor, supplies and drugs. Rural hospitals also experience severe underpayments by Medicare and Medicaid, and most have “razor-thin” operating margins.Wightman describes leading annual advocacy days — where Bothwell board members meet with state legislators (and candidates in election years) — and emphasizes the importance of all team members telling the hospital story.<hr><hr><div></div>&nbsp;<div class="raw-html-embed"> <details class="transcript"> <summary> <h2 title="Click here to open/close the transcript."> View Transcript </h2> </summary> 00:00:01:05 - 00:00:23:09 Tom Haederle Welcome to Advancing Health. In the face of today's multiple challenges, every hospital needs support and buy in for its mission of great care. Storytelling - sharing the right kinds of stories with the right audience at the right time - is a great way to build and maintain that support. This is particularly important for rural hospitals and health systems, most of which have razor-thin operating margins. 00:00:23:12 - 00:00:40:10 Tom Haederle In this month's Leadership Dialogue, hosted by the �� Association's 2025 Board Chair Tina Freese Decker, we hear more about the importance of advocacy and of all team members participating in telling the hospital story. 00:00:40:13 - 00:01:07:25 Tina Freese Decker Thank you so much for joining us today. I'm Tina Freese Decker, president CEO for Corewell Health, and I'm also the board chair for the �� Association. Last month we talked about trust and how our hospitals and our health systems can strengthen that trust with our communities and the people that we serve. Our rural hospitals are uniquely positioned to do this, as they are often the largest employers in their towns and communities, and frequently the only local source of care. 00:01:07:27 - 00:01:28:07 Tina Freese Decker Rural health care is about being a family. We take care of each other in our communities as best as possible, and we're here to provide that care close to home, no matter what headwinds that we all face. I recently had the opportunity to attend the �� Association's Rural Conference and you could really feel that sense of family and community in the room. 00:01:28:09 - 00:01:59:15 Tina Freese Decker We work in hospitals in red states and blue states all across the country, but we are all focused on the same thing: helping our neighbors in our communities to be healthier. There are some big challenges that are facing real health care, but together with a unified voice, we can get what we need. As I have traveled around our country meeting with the �� Association's regional policy boards and visiting the rural hospitals and my health system and others, the number one concern that I have heard from our hospitals, our communities, is access. 00:01:59:18 - 00:02:22:28 Tina Freese Decker And that is why it is so integral to the �� Association strategy and it is why it is so important that we come together as a field and that we're united as a field, because these challenges that we are facing are real. So today, I am pleased to have a distinguished leader in rural health care with us to talk about how we can all work together to advocate for the needs of our hospitals. 00:02:23:01 - 00:02:45:09 Tina Freese Decker I'd like to welcome Lori Wightman. She is the CEO of Bothwell Regional Health Center, a 108 bed acute care hospital in Sedalia, Missouri. Laura has served in this role since 2019, but even prior to Bothwell, she worked in real health care as the president of Mercy Hospital Ada in Ada, Oklahoma. So, Lori, welcome. Glad you were able to join us today. 00:02:45:15 - 00:02:46:17 Lori Wightman, R.N. Thank you, Tina. 00:02:46:19 - 00:03:03:20 Tina Freese Decker And I wanted to start out with just telling us a little bit about yourself. I know you started your health care career as a nurse and then you made the shift to administration. Can you tell us about yourself and how you see that family aspect in the hospital and the community in our rural areas? 00:03:03:22 - 00:03:30:01 Lori Wightman, R.N. Sure. Well, my father was a hospital administrator and my mother was a nurse, so I did both. And so it was a natural progression. And I think the foundation that nursing lays gives you all kinds of transferable skills that have been very helpful as I went into hospital administration. My career and dating advice has always been, you can't go wrong with a nurse. 00:03:30:03 - 00:03:57:14 Lori Wightman, R.N. And there's certainly served me well. And you talk about that family atmosphere. That is why I continue to choose rural health care. I've done the CEO position in a suburban hospital, and I sat at our senior leadership team meeting and thinking I was the only one on our senior leadership team that even lived in the area that we served. 00:03:57:17 - 00:04:23:24 Lori Wightman, R.N. Everyone else lived in a different suburb, and I just thought that was strange and disconnected. And, so I returned again then to rural health care because it is like a family. And it's ironic because we just finished revisiting our mission, vision and values. And our new mission statement talks about together we work to provide compassionate and safe care to family, friends, and neighbors. 00:04:23:27 - 00:04:37:07 Lori Wightman, R.N. Invariably, when I met new employee orientation, a significant number of people were born at the hospital. That's why I love rural. It's like that "Cheers" phenomenon where everyone knows your name. 00:04:37:09 - 00:05:01:02 Tina Freese Decker Very true. I used to lead a couple of rural hospitals as well. And like you said, even just walking into a rural hospital it feels like family where everyone there knows your name and of course, protect things from a confidentiality and a privacy perspective, but that feeling that we're all in this together. So I love that your mission statement is about together, that you can make an impact on people's health. 00:05:01:05 - 00:05:13:28 Tina Freese Decker I described a little bit about what it's like to walk into a rural hospital. Can you share a little bit about what is like to be a rural hospital, what it means in today's environment and why it's such a great place to work? 00:05:14:01 - 00:05:47:06 Lori Wightman, R.N. Well, in many ways, rural hospitals are uniquely the same as our suburban or urban counterparts. Forty six million people depend on a rural hospital for their care. So we struggle with the same labor shortages, the cost of labor supplies and drugs is rising faster than our reimbursement. We have all of those same struggles. Unique is that family atmosphere, I think. 00:05:47:06 - 00:06:13:26 Lori Wightman, R.N. And we have multiple generations working at the hospital. Now, you can't say anything bad about anyone because invariably they're somehow related. Or they were best friends in high school, or they used to be married to each other. So I mean, it's unique in that way. We have the same types of struggles that &nbsp;our counterparts do. 00:06:13:28 - 00:06:18:03 Tina Freese Decker What pressures are you feeling the most acutely right now? 00:06:18:06 - 00:06:47:09 Lori Wightman, R.N. Well, you take all of those common challenges that I talked about, and you turn up the volume a little bit. Because for us, 78% of our patients and our volume is governmental payers, so 78% of our business, we're getting reimbursed below cost. You can't make that up in volume. So we rely on all of the governmental programs, you know, disproportionate share all of those things. 00:06:47:09 - 00:06:54:22 Lori Wightman, R.N. And, 340B is doing exactly for us what it was designed to do, save rural hospitals. 00:06:54:25 - 00:07:11:22 Tina Freese Decker Those areas are critical that they remain. And so that we can continue to provide that sustainable, high quality care in our communities and all of our communities. 78% being governmental. It's a huge portion of what we do and what we rely on for access and caring for people. 00:07:11:29 - 00:07:23:15 Lori Wightman, R.N. Right. We are the typical rural hospital. We have razor-thin margins and aging plant of 18 years. 00:07:23:18 - 00:07:31:10 Tina Freese Decker So those are challenges that you're trying to navigate right now with all of the other things that happen. And how is your staffing levels going? Are those going okay? 00:07:31:13 - 00:07:55:12 Lori Wightman, R.N. Have the same labor shortage issues. We still have 22 traveling nurses here, but we have started being very aggressive in a grow your own program. And so as soon as the next month we're going to cut that number in half and then, within six months, we're hoping to have all of contract staff out. 00:07:55:15 - 00:08:02:04 Tina Freese Decker Is that something that you're most proud of, or is there something else that you want to share that you're most proud of from a rural hospital perspective? 00:08:02:06 - 00:08:29:24 Lori Wightman, R.N. I think what I'm most proud of is you get to personally view the impact of your decisions on people. I'm very proud of our all the talented people that we have here, from clinicians to community health workers. All of our physicians get to use all of the things they learned in medical school and residency, because there isn't a lot of subspecialists, so they are working at the top of their license. 00:08:29:26 - 00:08:50:21 Lori Wightman, R.N. Just several months ago, one of our critical care physicians diagnosed a case of botulism. Now as an old infection control nurse I get very excited about that because I never thought in my career I would see botulism. But it was diagnosed and treated here and the person's doing well. 00:08:50:23 - 00:09:25:27 Tina Freese Decker Oh, that's wonderful to hear. When you talk about all the different people that are part of health care in rural settings, or also another settings, it's quite amazing to see how many different areas we need to come together to take care of our community. When you think about an even larger scale, from rural hospitals to urban and teaching hospitals and others, how do you think about the whole ecosystem of our field and how we, you know, do we need all of us or and is there a way to form that greater fabric and social connection, or is there something else that we should be doing? 00:09:25:29 - 00:09:50:21 Lori Wightman, R.N. We are all very interconnected and I believe we are all needed. And I especially feel that as an independent hospital, not part of a health system, this is my first independent hospital. I rely on my hospital association more than I ever did when I was working for a health system, because it all comes down to relationships. 00:09:50:21 - 00:10:18:13 Lori Wightman, R.N. And so how do you develop, how do you get yourself in situations where you are meeting and now working with your partners around the state or the region? Because it comes down to relationships, you really need to know who your neighbors are in terms of other hospitals, who you're referring your patients to and develop that working relationship because it is all interconnected. 00:10:18:13 - 00:10:25:06 Lori Wightman, R.N. And we rely on our partners that we refer to, and they rely on us, too. 00:10:25:08 - 00:10:43:23 Tina Freese Decker One of the things I heard you say about the Rural Health Conference that the �� Association just put on, and the value of the �� Association is that we're not alone. And those values of relationships are really critical. So I appreciate that. The �� Association also talks a lot about how do we tell the hospital story. 00:10:43:25 - 00:10:55:15 Tina Freese Decker So how do you engage in advocacy to make sure we're telling that hospital story so that our legislative leaders and others know the value that we're bringing to the community? 00:10:55:17 - 00:11:22:11 Lori Wightman, R.N. Well, we are surrounded by stories. And so the first thing is to always be picking up on what is the story that is surrounding us, and how can we capture that? Because the most effective way is to bring that patient or nurse or physician to the legislator to testify, because they are the most effective way of communicating a message. 00:11:22:18 - 00:11:49:07 Lori Wightman, R.N. You know, the suits can go and talk about data, but nothing is more effective than what I call a real person telling their story and how a decision or a potential decision is going to impact them and how it feels. The other thing we do is every October, it's become tradition. We have Advocacy Day with our board, at our board meeting. 00:11:49:09 - 00:12:21:12 Lori Wightman, R.N. We invite our state elected officials &nbsp;- so people representing us at the state capitol - to come to our board meetings. On election years their challengers also come and I invite the hospital association and they all answer two questions: What do you hope to accomplish in the next legislative session, and what do you think might get in the way? That sets the scene for my board to understand that part of their role in governance is advocacy. 00:12:21:14 - 00:12:29:19 Lori Wightman, R.N. And so I've had two of my board members...almost every legislative session I go and testify on on some bill. 00:12:29:21 - 00:12:50:01 Tina Freese Decker That is really a good idea. Thank you so much for sharing that. Do you have any other final suggestions for us as AHA members, as other hospitals, whether it's rural or urban, that we should think about or do as we think about advocacy and access or also field unity? 00:12:50:03 - 00:13:22:11 Lori Wightman, R.N. You know, having been on the board of two different state hospital associations, I get it. You know, sometimes members can be at odds with each other on a given issue. And my advice to AHA would be to play the role of convener, facilitating conversations between members to better understand each other's position. And if a middle ground can't be reached, then that might be an issue that AHA remains neutral on. 00:13:22:14 - 00:13:34:07 Lori Wightman, R.N. But there are so many issues where we can agree on and that is very much the role and what all of us depend on AHA to play in advocating. 00:13:34:09 - 00:14:02:15 Tina Freese Decker There's a lot that binds us together. Like you said, we're all caring for our neighbors and our communities, and that's the most critical piece of it. And we have to keep that front and center with every decision that we make and every action that we do. Well, Lori, thank you so much for being with us today on this AHA podcast, for sharing your expertise in rural health care and for talking about some new ideas that all of us can take forward to ensure that we're telling the hospital story in the best way possible. 00:14:02:18 - 00:14:21:09 Tina Freese Decker So while I know that we have our work ahead of us, I know that I continue to be energized every time I speak with committed and passionate hospital leaders like Lori. Again, appreciate your work that you do every single day for the neighbors and for the people in your community that you serve. We'll be back next month for another Leadership Dialogue conversation. 00:14:21:13 - 00:14:23:01 Tina Freese Decker Have a great day. 00:14:23:03 - 00:14:31:13 Tom Haederle Thanks for listening to Advancing Health. Please subscribe and rate us five stars on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. </details> </div></div><div class="col-md-4"><div class="views-element-container"> <section class="top-level-view js-view-dom-id-e0b567f181c74288b29240dd740552bb0c7554c39792d0ce2a5c925a2eda659a resource-block"> <h2>Previous Leadership Dialogues and Rounds</h2> <div class="resource-wrapper"> <div class="resource-view"> <div class="article views-row"> <div class="views-field views-field-title"> <a href="/news/chairpersons-file/2025-02-24-chair-file-leadership-dialogue-advancing-health-and-building-trust-lynn-hanessian-and-robert" hreflang="en">Chair File: Leadership Dialogue — Advancing Health and Building Trust with Lynn Hanessian and Robert Trestman, M.D.</a> </div><div class="views-field views-field-created"> <time datetime="2025-02-24T08:21:34-06:00">Feb 24, 2025</time> </div></div> <div class="article views-row"> <div class="views-field views-field-title"> <a href="/news/chairpersons-file/2025-01-27-chair-file-leadership-dialogue-tackling-todays-health-care-challenges-aha-leaders-stacey" hreflang="en">Chair File: Leadership Dialogue — Tackling Today’s Health Care Challenges with AHA Leaders Stacey Hughes and Ashley Thompson</a> </div><div class="views-field views-field-created"> <time datetime="2025-01-27T09:40:27-06:00">Jan 27, 2025</time> </div></div> <div class="article views-row"> <div class="views-field views-field-title"> <a href="/news/chairpersons-file/2024-12-16-leadership-dialogue-assessing-health-care-challenges-and-successes-tina-freese-decker" hreflang="en">Leadership Dialogue — Assessing Health Care Challenges and Successes With Tina Freese Decker, President and CEO of Corewell Health</a> </div><div class="views-field views-field-created"> <time datetime="2024-12-16T08:16:44-06:00">Dec 16, 2024</time> </div></div> <div class="article views-row"> <div class="views-field views-field-title"> <a href="/news/chairpersons-file/2024-11-18-leadership-dialogue-advancing-health-care-innovation-amy-perry-president-and-ceo-banner" hreflang="en">Leadership Dialogue — Advancing Health Care Innovation with Amy Perry, President and CEO of Banner Health</a> </div><div class="views-field views-field-created"> <time datetime="2024-11-18T10:04:06-06:00">Nov 18, 2024</time> </div></div> <div class="article views-row"> <div class="views-field views-field-title"> <a href="/news/chairpersons-file/2024-10-28-leadership-dialogue-value-health-systems-tom-priselac-president-and-ceo-emeritus-cedars-sinai" hreflang="en">Leadership Dialogue — The Value of Health Systems with Tom Priselac, President and CEO Emeritus of Cedars-Sinai </a> </div><div class="views-field views-field-created"> <time datetime="2024-10-28T10:22:11-05:00">Oct 28, 2024</time> </div></div> </div> </div> <div class="more-link"><a href="/topics/leadership-dialogue">Watch More Leadership Dialogues and Rounds Videos</a></div> </section> </div> </div></div></div> Mon, 31 Mar 2025 10:30:00 -0500 Advocacy & Public Policy Leadership Dialogue Series: The Importance of Advocacy and Storytelling in Rural Health /advancing-health-podcast/2025-03-31-leadership-dialogue-series-importance-advocacy-and-storytelling-rural-health In this Leadership Dialogue conversation, Tina Freese Decker, president and CEO of Corewell Health and 2025 AHA board chair, talks with Lori Wightman, R.N., CEO of Bothwell Regional Health Center, about the challenges that rural hospitals and health systems face, including razor-thin operating margins and workforce staffing, before pivoting to discuss the importance of advocacy in telling the hospital story.<hr><div></div><div class="raw-html-embed"><details class="transcript"> <summary> <h2 title="Click here to open/close the transcript."> View Transcript </h2> </summary> 00:00:01:05 - 00:00:23:09 Tom Haederle Welcome to Advancing Health. In the face of today's multiple challenges, every hospital needs support and buy in for its mission of great care. Storytelling - sharing the right kinds of stories with the right audience at the right time - is a great way to build and maintain that support. This is particularly important for rural hospitals and health systems, most of which have razor-thin operating margins. 00:00:23:12 - 00:00:40:10 Tom Haederle In this month's Leadership Dialogue, hosted by the �� Association's 2025 Board Chair Tina Freese Decker, we hear more about the importance of advocacy and of all team members participating in telling the hospital story. 00:00:40:13 - 00:01:07:25 Tina Freese Decker Thank you so much for joining us today. I'm Tina Freese Decker, president CEO for Corewell Health, and I'm also the board chair for the �� Association. Last month we talked about trust and how our hospitals and our health systems can strengthen that trust with our communities and the people that we serve. Our rural hospitals are uniquely positioned to do this, as they are often the largest employers in their towns and communities, and frequently the only local source of care. 00:01:07:27 - 00:01:28:07 Tina Freese Decker Rural health care is about being a family. We take care of each other in our communities as best as possible, and we're here to provide that care close to home, no matter what headwinds that we all face. I recently had the opportunity to attend the �� Association's Rural Conference and you could really feel that sense of family and community in the room. 00:01:28:09 - 00:01:59:15 Tina Freese Decker We work in hospitals in red states and blue states all across the country, but we are all focused on the same thing: helping our neighbors in our communities to be healthier. There are some big challenges that are facing real health care, but together with a unified voice, we can get what we need. As I have traveled around our country meeting with the �� Association's regional policy boards and visiting the rural hospitals and my health system and others, the number one concern that I have heard from our hospitals, our communities, is access. 00:01:59:18 - 00:02:22:28 Tina Freese Decker And that is why it is so integral to the �� Association strategy and it is why it is so important that we come together as a field and that we're united as a field, because these challenges that we are facing are real. So today, I am pleased to have a distinguished leader in rural health care with us to talk about how we can all work together to advocate for the needs of our hospitals. 00:02:23:01 - 00:02:45:09 Tina Freese Decker I'd like to welcome Lori Wightman. She is the CEO of Bothwell Regional Health Center, a 108 bed acute care hospital in Sedalia, Missouri. Laura has served in this role since 2019, but even prior to Bothwell, she worked in real health care as the president of Mercy Hospital Ada in Ada, Oklahoma. So, Lori, welcome. Glad you were able to join us today. 00:02:45:15 - 00:02:46:17 Lori Wightman, R.N. Thank you, Tina. 00:02:46:19 - 00:03:03:20 Tina Freese Decker And I wanted to start out with just telling us a little bit about yourself. I know you started your health care career as a nurse and then you made the shift to administration. Can you tell us about yourself and how you see that family aspect in the hospital and the community in our rural areas? 00:03:03:22 - 00:03:30:01 Lori Wightman, R.N. Sure. Well, my father was a hospital administrator and my mother was a nurse, so I did both. And so it was a natural progression. And I think the foundation that nursing lays gives you all kinds of transferable skills that have been very helpful as I went into hospital administration. My career and dating advice has always been, you can't go wrong with a nurse. 00:03:30:03 - 00:03:57:14 Lori Wightman, R.N. And there's certainly served me well. And you talk about that family atmosphere. That is why I continue to choose rural health care. I've done the CEO position in a suburban hospital, and I sat at our senior leadership team meeting and thinking I was the only one on our senior leadership team that even lived in the area that we served. 00:03:57:17 - 00:04:23:24 Lori Wightman, R.N. Everyone else lived in a different suburb, and I just thought that was strange and disconnected. And, so I returned again then to rural health care because it is like a family. And it's ironic because we just finished revisiting our mission, vision and values. And our new mission statement talks about together we work to provide compassionate and safe care to family, friends, and neighbors. 00:04:23:27 - 00:04:37:07 Lori Wightman, R.N. Invariably, when I met new employee orientation, a significant number of people were born at the hospital. That's why I love rural. It's like that "Cheers" phenomenon where everyone knows your name. 00:04:37:09 - 00:05:01:02 Tina Freese Decker Very true. I used to lead a couple of rural hospitals as well. And like you said, even just walking into a rural hospital it feels like family where everyone there knows your name and of course, protect things from a confidentiality and a privacy perspective, but that feeling that we're all in this together. So I love that your mission statement is about together, that you can make an impact on people's health. 00:05:01:05 - 00:05:13:28 Tina Freese Decker I described a little bit about what it's like to walk into a rural hospital. Can you share a little bit about what is like to be a rural hospital, what it means in today's environment and why it's such a great place to work? 00:05:14:01 - 00:05:47:06 Lori Wightman, R.N. Well, in many ways, rural hospitals are uniquely the same as our suburban or urban counterparts. Forty six million people depend on a rural hospital for their care. So we struggle with the same labor shortages, the cost of labor supplies and drugs is rising faster than our reimbursement. We have all of those same struggles. Unique is that family atmosphere, I think. 00:05:47:06 - 00:06:13:26 Lori Wightman, R.N. And we have multiple generations working at the hospital. Now, you can't say anything bad about anyone because invariably they're somehow related. Or they were best friends in high school, or they used to be married to each other. So I mean, it's unique in that way. We have the same types of struggles that &nbsp;our counterparts do. 00:06:13:28 - 00:06:18:03 Tina Freese Decker What pressures are you feeling the most acutely right now? 00:06:18:06 - 00:06:47:09 Lori Wightman, R.N. Well, you take all of those common challenges that I talked about, and you turn up the volume a little bit. Because for us, 78% of our patients and our volume is governmental payers, so 78% of our business, we're getting reimbursed below cost. You can't make that up in volume. So we rely on all of the governmental programs, you know, disproportionate share all of those things. 00:06:47:09 - 00:06:54:22 Lori Wightman, R.N. And, 340B is doing exactly for us what it was designed to do, save rural hospitals. 00:06:54:25 - 00:07:11:22 Tina Freese Decker Those areas are critical that they remain. And so that we can continue to provide that sustainable, high quality care in our communities and all of our communities. 78% being governmental. It's a huge portion of what we do and what we rely on for access and caring for people. 00:07:11:29 - 00:07:23:15 Lori Wightman, R.N. Right. We are the typical rural hospital. We have razor-thin margins and aging plant of 18 years. 00:07:23:18 - 00:07:31:10 Tina Freese Decker So those are challenges that you're trying to navigate right now with all of the other things that happen. And how is your staffing levels going? Are those going okay? 00:07:31:13 - 00:07:55:12 Lori Wightman, R.N. Have the same labor shortage issues. We still have 22 traveling nurses here, but we have started being very aggressive in a grow your own program. And so as soon as the next month we're going to cut that number in half and then, within six months, we're hoping to have all of contract staff out. 00:07:55:15 - 00:08:02:04 Tina Freese Decker Is that something that you're most proud of, or is there something else that you want to share that you're most proud of from a rural hospital perspective? 00:08:02:06 - 00:08:29:24 Lori Wightman, R.N. I think what I'm most proud of is you get to personally view the impact of your decisions on people. I'm very proud of our all the talented people that we have here, from clinicians to community health workers. All of our physicians get to use all of the things they learned in medical school and residency, because there isn't a lot of subspecialists, so they are working at the top of their license. 00:08:29:26 - 00:08:50:21 Lori Wightman, R.N. Just several months ago, one of our critical care physicians diagnosed a case of botulism. Now as an old infection control nurse I get very excited about that because I never thought in my career I would see botulism. But it was diagnosed and treated here and the person's doing well. 00:08:50:23 - 00:09:25:27 Tina Freese Decker Oh, that's wonderful to hear. When you talk about all the different people that are part of health care in rural settings, or also another settings, it's quite amazing to see how many different areas we need to come together to take care of our community. When you think about an even larger scale, from rural hospitals to urban and teaching hospitals and others, how do you think about the whole ecosystem of our field and how we, you know, do we need all of us or and is there a way to form that greater fabric and social connection, or is there something else that we should be doing? 00:09:25:29 - 00:09:50:21 Lori Wightman, R.N. We are all very interconnected and I believe we are all needed. And I especially feel that as an independent hospital, not part of a health system, this is my first independent hospital. I rely on my hospital association more than I ever did when I was working for a health system, because it all comes down to relationships. 00:09:50:21 - 00:10:18:13 Lori Wightman, R.N. And so how do you develop, how do you get yourself in situations where you are meeting and now working with your partners around the state or the region? Because it comes down to relationships, you really need to know who your neighbors are in terms of other hospitals, who you're referring your patients to and develop that working relationship because it is all interconnected. 00:10:18:13 - 00:10:25:06 Lori Wightman, R.N. And we rely on our partners that we refer to, and they rely on us, too. 00:10:25:08 - 00:10:43:23 Tina Freese Decker One of the things I heard you say about the Rural Health Conference that the �� Association just put on, and the value of the �� Association is that we're not alone. And those values of relationships are really critical. So I appreciate that. The �� Association also talks a lot about how do we tell the hospital story. 00:10:43:25 - 00:10:55:15 Tina Freese Decker So how do you engage in advocacy to make sure we're telling that hospital story so that our legislative leaders and others know the value that we're bringing to the community? 00:10:55:17 - 00:11:22:11 Lori Wightman, R.N. Well, we are surrounded by stories. And so the first thing is to always be picking up on what is the story that is surrounding us, and how can we capture that? Because the most effective way is to bring that patient or nurse or physician to the legislator to testify, because they are the most effective way of communicating a message. 00:11:22:18 - 00:11:49:07 Lori Wightman, R.N. You know, the suits can go and talk about data, but nothing is more effective than what I call a real person telling their story and how a decision or a potential decision is going to impact them and how it feels. The other thing we do is every October, it's become tradition. We have Advocacy Day with our board, at our board meeting. 00:11:49:09 - 00:12:21:12 Lori Wightman, R.N. We invite our state elected officials &nbsp;- so people representing us at the state capitol - to come to our board meetings. On election years their challengers also come and I invite the hospital association and they all answer two questions: What do you hope to accomplish in the next legislative session, and what do you think might get in the way? That sets the scene for my board to understand that part of their role in governance is advocacy. 00:12:21:14 - 00:12:29:19 Lori Wightman, R.N. And so I've had two of my board members...almost every legislative session I go and testify on on some bill. 00:12:29:21 - 00:12:50:01 Tina Freese Decker That is really a good idea. Thank you so much for sharing that. Do you have any other final suggestions for us as AHA members, as other hospitals, whether it's rural or urban, that we should think about or do as we think about advocacy and access or also field unity? 00:12:50:03 - 00:13:22:11 Lori Wightman, R.N. You know, having been on the board of two different state hospital associations, I get it. You know, sometimes members can be at odds with each other on a given issue. And my advice to AHA would be to play the role of convener, facilitating conversations between members to better understand each other's position. And if a middle ground can't be reached, then that might be an issue that AHA remains neutral on. 00:13:22:14 - 00:13:34:07 Lori Wightman, R.N. But there are so many issues where we can agree on and that is very much the role and what all of us depend on AHA to play in advocating. 00:13:34:09 - 00:14:02:15 Tina Freese Decker There's a lot that binds us together. Like you said, we're all caring for our neighbors and our communities, and that's the most critical piece of it. And we have to keep that front and center with every decision that we make and every action that we do. Well, Lori, thank you so much for being with us today on this AHA podcast, for sharing your expertise in rural health care and for talking about some new ideas that all of us can take forward to ensure that we're telling the hospital story in the best way possible. 00:14:02:18 - 00:14:21:09 Tina Freese Decker So while I know that we have our work ahead of us, I know that I continue to be energized every time I speak with committed and passionate hospital leaders like Lori. Again, appreciate your work that you do every single day for the neighbors and for the people in your community that you serve. We'll be back next month for another Leadership Dialogue conversation. 00:14:21:13 - 00:14:23:01 Tina Freese Decker Have a great day. 00:14:23:03 - 00:14:31:13 Tom Haederle Thanks for listening to Advancing Health. Please subscribe and rate us five stars on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. </details></div> Mon, 31 Mar 2025 01:41:00 -0500 Advocacy & Public Policy Continuing resolution moves to President Trump for signing /news/headline/2025-03-14-continuing-resolution-moves-president-trump-signing The Senate March 14 <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1968">approved</a> by a vote of 54-46, a continuing resolution to fund the government through Sept. 30. The House <a href="/news/headline/2025-03-11-house-passes-continuing-resolution-fund-government-through-september-extend-key-health-care-provisions">passed</a>, by a vote of 217-213, the bill earlier in the week. President Trump is expected to sign the measure. &nbsp; Fri, 14 Mar 2025 15:16:08 -0500 Advocacy & Public Policy White House withdraws nomination for CDC director; Senate committee advances NIH, FDA picks /news/headline/2025-03-13-white-house-withdraws-nomination-cdc-director-senate-committee-advances-nih-fda-picks The White House March 13 withdrew the nomination of former Republican congressman Dave Weldon for director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Meanwhile, the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions <a href="https://www.help.senate.gov/hearings/nominations-03-13-2025" target="_blank">advanced</a> the nominations of Jay Bhattacharya for director of the National Institutes of Health and Marty Makary for commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration. Both nominees will next be considered by a full Senate vote. Thu, 13 Mar 2025 14:40:45 -0500 Advocacy & Public Policy As part of AHA Advocacy Day, hospital leaders urge Congress to protect patient access to care /news/headline/2025-03-04-part-aha-advocacy-day-hospital-leaders-urge-congress-protect-patient-access-care More than 150 hospital and health system leaders March 4 participated in an AHA Advocacy Day briefing in Washington, D.C., to get the latest updates on key issues before meeting with lawmakers and their staff on Capitol Hill. During the briefing, AHA President and CEO Rick Pollack, AHA Executive Vice President Stacey Hughes and other AHA leaders discussed the latest on the budget negotiations — both to fund the federal government past March 14 and Republicans’ efforts to pass legislation implementing President Trump’s agenda through reconciliation. About 100 hospital leaders also participated in the briefing virtually.&nbsp;AHA leaders discussed the importance of urging Congress to address several health care provisions that expire at the end of March, including preventing Medicaid disproportionate share hospital payment cuts; extending enhanced low-volume adjustment and Medicare-dependent hospital programs; and extending telehealth and hospital-at-home waivers. They also provided updates and shared resources that hospital leaders could use as part of their advocacy efforts to urge lawmakers to prevent significant cuts to the Medicaid program that would jeopardize access to the 24/7 care and services that hospitals provide; reject additional so-called site-neutral payment reductions; and extend enhanced premium tax credits to ensure millions of Americans can continue to access health insurance.&nbsp;“With so much at stake in the coming weeks and months, it is vital that we continue to face health care’s challenges together speaking as one voice to protect the blue and white ‘H’ that is a beacon of health, healing and hope in every community across the nation,” Pollack said.&nbsp;AHA members can visit AHA’s <a href="/advocacy/action-center" title="advo homepage">website</a> for resources and tools that can assist with their advocacy efforts.&nbsp; Tue, 04 Mar 2025 15:24:47 -0600 Advocacy & Public Policy Register for March 4 AHA Advocacy Day in Washington, D.C.; New Resources to Protect Medicaid <div class="container"><div class="row"><div class="col-md-8">Congress continues to consider policies and proposals that would impact hospital funding for patient care. In the coming weeks, Congress must act to fund the government with the current continuing resolution set to expire on March 14 and ensure long-term stability for critical health care programs also expiring soon, including:<ul><li><a href="/system/files/media/file/2020/02/fact-sheet-medicaid-dsh-0120.pdf">Medicaid disproportionate share hospital</a> program cuts that take effect April 1.</li><li><a href="/fact-sheets/2022-08-30-fact-sheet-rural-hospital-support-act-s4009-assistance-rural-community">Enhanced low-volume adjustment and Medicare-dependent hospital</a> programs expiring April 1.</li><li><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 waivers</a> that were extended through March 31.</li></ul>At the same time, the Senate and House continue to move forward with their <a href="/issue-landing-page/2025-02-07-budget-reconciliation-process-resource-page">budget reconciliation frameworks</a>, bringing Congress closer to a full reconciliation package that would have significant implications for hospitals.Hospital and health system leaders can <a href="https://forms.office.com/r/4j1bpiayvP" target="_blank">register</a> for a March 4 AHA Advocacy Day event in Washington, D.C. AHA President and CEO Rick Pollack and other AHA leaders will provide a briefing on the current congressional landscape and share key messages that they can deliver to their representatives and senators on Capitol Hill. This event is for AHA members only.If you cannot make it to Washington, the AHA will virtually broadcast a live briefing for AHA members beginning at 10 a.m. ET. Please <a href="http://aha.windrosemedia.com/" target="_blank">register for the virtual session</a>. You must register in advance to participate in the briefing.Please see our recent <a href="/action-center">AHA Action Alert</a> for our key advocacy messages and resources that can assist you in conversations with your lawmakers.<h2>Coalition Advertising Campaign, Resources to Protect Medicaid</h2>House and Senate Republicans are attempting to use the budget reconciliation process 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. 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.The <a href="https://strengthenhealthcare.org/" target="_blank">Coalition to Strengthen America’s Healthcare</a>, of which the AHA is a founding member, has launched a multimedia advertising campaign, highlighting the value of Medicaid coverage for everyday Americans. The ad campaign includes a new <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRVxw6uJ2sc" target="_blank">television commercial</a> warning of potentially devastating cuts to Medicaid and urging Congress to protect Medicaid and ensure access to care for patients. The commercial will be running on TV nationally, in Washington, D.C., and other targeted markets. The ad campaign also includes digital targeting of key elected officials as well as publications inside the Beltway and influential new media outlets.In addition to the advertising campaign, the Coalition has developed and shared digital resources that hospitals and health systems can use as part of their advocacy efforts to protect Medicaid. See the <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1BRNuvabV4VqmE5lPufY2EFML5pL7wGwNxhVzs9SvitQ/edit?tab=t.0" target="_blank">Coalition resources</a> and <a href="https://strengthenhealthcare.org/" target="_blank">website</a> for more details.<h2>Further Questions</h2>For questions on the March 4 Advocacy Day, please contact Monica Day at <a href="mailto:mday@aha.org?subject=RE: March 4 Advocacy Day">mday@aha.org</a>. For questions on the Coalition advertising campaign or resources, please contact Kristina Weger, executive director of the Coalition, at <a href="mailto:kweger@aha.org?subject=RE: Coalition advertising campaign and resources">kweger@aha.org</a>.</div><div class="col-md-4"><a href="/system/files/media/file/2025/02/Special-Bulletin-Register-for-March-4-AHA-Advocacy-Day-in-Washington-DC-New-Resources-to-Protect-Medicaid.pdf" target="_blank" title="Special Bulletin: Register for March 4 AHA Advocacy Day in Washington, D.C.; New Resources to Protect Medicaid PDF"><img src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/Page-1-Special-Bulletin-Register-for-March-4-AHA-Advocacy-Day-in-Washington-DC-New-Resources-to-Protect-Medicaid.png" data-entity-uuid="7d9fa957-7044-4fe0-b941-3b27e8cbd405" data-entity-type="file" alt="Special Bulletin: Register for March 4 AHA Advocacy Day in Washington, D.C.; New Resources to Protect Medicaid PDF page 1." width="695" height="900"></a></div></div></div> Tue, 25 Feb 2025 06:00:00 -0600 Advocacy & Public Policy