/ en Sat, 26 Apr 2025 02:32:30 -0500 Wed, 16 Apr 25 16:01:24 -0500 /news/headline/2025-04-16-administration-issues-executive-order-prescription-drug-prices-340b-site-neutral-payment <p>The White House April 15 released an <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/04/lowering-drug-prices-by-once-again-putting-americans-first/">executive order</a> directing federal agencies to undertake a broad range of tasks aimed at reducing the costs of prescription drugs.  <br><br>Among the tasks, the order directs:  <br><br>•    The Department of Health and Human Services to ensure within 90 days grants to federally funded health centers are conditioned upon offering insulin and injectable epinephrine at or below the discounted price paid by the health center grantee or sub-grantee under the 340B Prescription Drug Program to eligible patients.  <br>•    HHS to evaluate and propose regulations, as appropriate, within 180 days to ensure payment within Medicare is not encouraging a shift in drug administration volume away from physician office settings to hospital outpatient departments.  <br>•    HHS to carry out within 180 days an acquisition cost survey for covered outpatient drugs at hospital outpatient departments. HHS must then propose any appropriate adjustments consistent with budget neutrality provisions. <br>•    HHS to develop and implement rulemaking within 60 days for a new payment model for high-cost prescription drugs. <br><br>In a statement, Lisa Kidder Hrobsky, AHA senior vice president of advocacy and political affairs, said, “The AHA welcomes President Trump and his Administration focusing on the high price of drugs. As major purchasers of drugs for patient care, hospitals and health systems have strained under their rising prices. <br> <br>“However, we continue to strongly oppose site-neutral policies that do not account for the unique circumstances of providing care in the hospital outpatient setting, where patients are demonstrably sicker and require more complex care. In addition, hospitals and health systems are the providers of 24/7, 365 days a year care to their patients and provide a wide range of services that allow for healthy communities.   <br> <br>“Finally, 340B is an essential program that helps hospitals advance health in communities across the country. We will work closely with the Administration to convey the critical role 340B plays for patients and communities, especially those in rural and other medically underserved areas.”</p> Wed, 16 Apr 2025 16:01:24 -0500 Site-Neutral Payment Proposals <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 Site-Neutral Payment Proposals /advocacy-alliance-update/2025-02-26-aha-site-neutral-advocacy-alliance <p><strong>Register for March 6 AHA Site-neutral Advocacy Alliance call</strong></p><p>The AHA’s Site-neutral Advocacy Alliance will meet on Thursday, March 6 at 2 p.m. ET. This call will feature updates on the various site-neutral provisions Congress may be considering soon as well as an overview of new advocacy materials available to help with your outreach on this issue.</p><p><a href="https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Femail.advocacy.aha.org%2FNzEwLVpMTC02NTEAAAGY4cG0FGh5yFmAKDnS8U42rNAArtTQ2YLDgT5GW2oKWYO5r-shLxSTgEK1G5uYFRGq4o4ku7c%3D&data=05%7C02%7Cdsamuels%40aha.org%7C26c986483f034176cc7f08dd5676c424%7Cb9119340beb74e5e84b23cc18f7b36a6%7C0%7C0%7C638761790304937777%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=K6R7E6mY3iOsEXSTIUDVo0Y1f2CiC6rc9FElYNv1SK8%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank">Register for the March 6 call</a>.</p><p><strong>Tell Congress to reject site-neutral payment cuts; join AHA’s advocacy day in Washington, D.C.</strong><br>Congress continues to consider policies and proposals that would impact hospital patient care funding. The Senate and House introduced budget reconciliation frameworks, bringing Congress closer to a full reconciliation package that would have significant implications for hospitals. See the AHA’s recent <a href="https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Femail.advocacy.aha.org%2FNzEwLVpMTC02NTEAAAGY4cG0FNTbSj9_EG3V8ez02HVJ8YxKNlWaQbzQ8SI3MXA6BQ2eb-Wme-h3ndQNlL88Pvqdv60%3D&data=05%7C02%7Cdsamuels%40aha.org%7C26c986483f034176cc7f08dd5676c424%7Cb9119340beb74e5e84b23cc18f7b36a6%7C0%7C0%7C638761790304949672%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=DEWUf82N4OpK44Dt5FLB7ducpN6qlW%2B2Ffp%2FipyRoSQ%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank">Action Alert</a> for our key advocacy messages and resources that can assist you in conversations with lawmakers.</p><p>Hospital and health system leaders can <a href="https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Femail.advocacy.aha.org%2FNzEwLVpMTC02NTEAAAGY4cG0FFx0glaj1drddg7wYHzU_8iYaK0Q3o2sqH1vUHmnqRS7J-ObMXgnhWAqXExDz_ZBwFw%3D&data=05%7C02%7Cdsamuels%40aha.org%7C26c986483f034176cc7f08dd5676c424%7Cb9119340beb74e5e84b23cc18f7b36a6%7C0%7C0%7C638761790304961263%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=3Sk%2FgkCYiiD8sQWxfWkksw1HD7s5DWA70hBDqNBlNq4%3D&reserved=0" 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.</p><p>If you cannot make it to Washington, the AHA will virtually broadcast a live briefing for AHA members beginning at 10 a.m. ET. <a href="https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Femail.advocacy.aha.org%2FNzEwLVpMTC02NTEAAAGY4cG0FKdedaAdqINweCF_WsVgbblA4svNEdYUErc5zsMHUX3kjGOeUC5WdOkw7u80VgUA1aI%3D&data=05%7C02%7Cdsamuels%40aha.org%7C26c986483f034176cc7f08dd5676c424%7Cb9119340beb74e5e84b23cc18f7b36a6%7C0%7C0%7C638761790304974592%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=FCHMlCdXSGl%2BdyQP1b0BC9NavU%2Bid%2FTPXQfl5u3CBeQ%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank">Register for the virtual session</a>.</p><p><strong>Site-neutral advocacy resources</strong><br>Visit the AHA’s Site-neutral Payment Proposals <a href="https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Femail.advocacy.aha.org%2FNzEwLVpMTC02NTEAAAGY4cG0FIbs8y5II7xgCfE3VcTzcfJc3JFZjX44O7ZpZCueH8-X58ORNXYhiIRNYLnSPgdiFF8%3D&data=05%7C02%7Cdsamuels%40aha.org%7C26c986483f034176cc7f08dd5676c424%7Cb9119340beb74e5e84b23cc18f7b36a6%7C0%7C0%7C638761790304986003%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=gtbXQnWilklt0clIhuj74%2BiRDXNMvjonGsbxVsEtgMI%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank">Advocacy Issue page</a> for additional resources to assist in your advocacy efforts.</p><p><strong>Further questions</strong><br>If you have further questions, please contact Jason Kleinman, AHA’s director of federal relations, at <a href="https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Femail.advocacy.aha.org%2FNzEwLVpMTC02NTEAAAGY4cG0FF9tLM_oa5Jw_IDf6raWyt-MmLuzhi88tKMSfDJqtybn2F2j0QRhB_yzS4UdPq_NYuA%3D&data=05%7C02%7Cdsamuels%40aha.org%7C26c986483f034176cc7f08dd5676c424%7Cb9119340beb74e5e84b23cc18f7b36a6%7C0%7C0%7C638761790304997370%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=S4z6vePrBmO174kJ%2BZR2JU6QvKY06hmQXduxz2J4jpM%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank">jkleinman@aha.org</a>.</p> Wed, 26 Feb 2025 10:36:54 -0600 Site-Neutral Payment Proposals /fact-sheets/2025-02-20-fact-sheet-facility-fees <div class="container"><div class="row"><div class="col-md-8"><h2><span><em>The Issue</em></span></h2><p>Facility fees are the portion of a health care treatment bill that covers all the costs of delivering patient care, except for those that are billed by physicians and other professionals. Congress has introduced several pieces of legislation that would limit hospitals’ ability to charge these fees in the context of Medicare hospital outpatient payments (also known as “site-neutral” provisions). These proposals would cut anywhere from approximately $3 billion to $180 billion from hospitals over 10 years without providing any alternative mechanism for funding the essential health care services that only hospitals provide. Increasingly, policymakers are also looking at policies to limit facility fees in the context of commercial coverage.</p><h2><span><em>AHA Take</em></span></h2><p>The AHA urges Congress to oppose any legislation that would cut resources to hospitals through the use of facility fees to help finance the care they provide to their communities.</p><h2><span><em>Why?</em></span></h2><ul><li>Facility fees provide hospitals with the resources necessary to make available the high-acuity services only they can provide on a 24/7 basis, such as emergency and trauma care. This includes around the- clock nursing and physician services, medical equipment, drug therapies and maintaining critical building and community infrastructure.</li><li>Hospital outpatient departments and affiliated physician offices are not the same as independent physician offices and other ambulatory sites of care. They care for sicker patients and treat a higher rate of uninsured. They also must meet higher regulatory standards. For example, unlike most independent physician offices or ambulatory surgery centers, hospital outpatient departments and affiliated physician practices do not call 911 if their patient experiences a medical emergency. Instead, they work as an integrated system to immediately transfer the patient to the hospital emergency department or other appropriate care setting.</li><li>Facility fees are increasingly used to cover the true cost of providing physician services, which hospitals do by subsidizing physicians’ pay above the underpayment that they are reimbursed from both public and private payers. These payers have pushed physician compensation so low that many physicians have no choice but to either seek employment or require subsidies from the facilities in which they work.</li><li>Restrictions on the use of facility fees could result in hospitals having to make challenging decisions to end the provision of certain services. This would result not only in a loss of access to care in the community but also in jobs.</li></ul><h2><span><em>Key Facts</em></span></h2><p>Hospital bills cover two types of expenses — professional fees and facility fees. Professional fees cover the cost of the physician providing the care. Facility fees cover everything else — both the direct and indirect costs that allow hospitals to continue to provide comprehensive care to patients and serve the needs of their communities. However, as both Medicare and commercial payers increasingly compensate physicians below the cost of delivering care, hospitals have needed to use a portion of facility fees to subsidize physician practices. These fees may be combined into one bill or separated into multiple bills.</p><img src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/image_45.png" data-entity-uuid="28fe6d72-8d14-4593-9e8e-28274902c28f" data-entity-type="file" alt="Professional fees chart" width="850" height="525"></div><div class="col-md-4"><a href="/system/files/media/file/2025/02/fact-sheet-facility-fees.pdf"><img src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/cover-fact-sheet-facility-fees.png" data-entity-uuid="2fd7d096-f108-4c23-b2c6-8deb529a5869" data-entity-type="file" alt="Cover of Fact Sheet" width="682" height="882"></a></div></div></div> Thu, 20 Feb 2025 14:55:33 -0600 Site-Neutral Payment Proposals <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 Site-Neutral Payment Proposals /fact-sheets/2023-03-21-fact-sheet-medicare-hospital-outpatient-site-neutral-payment-policies h2 { color: #003087; } <div class="container"><div class="row"><div class="col-md-8"><h2>AHA Take</h2><p><strong>The AHA strongly opposes site-neutral payment cuts, which would reduce access to critical health care services, especially in rural and other underserved communities.</strong></p><p>Hospital outpatient departments (HOPDs) — such as hospital-owned clinics that provide complex cancer, infectious disease, and mental health services — should not be paid the same Medicare rate as a standalone physician office. These outpatient departments treat more patients from medically underserved populations who tend to be sicker and more complex to care for than Medicare patients treated in independent physician offices and ambulatory surgical centers. They also are held to more rigorous licensing, accreditation and regulatory requirements. Implementing site-neutral payment policies could force outpatient clinics to close or cut back on critical services, resulting in reduced patient access and job losses.</p><p>The cost of care delivered in hospitals and health systems, including HOPDs, is fundamentally different than other sites of care and thus needs to take into account the unique benefits that only they provide to their communities. This includes maintaining standby capacity for natural- and man-made disasters, public health emergencies, other unexpected traumatic events, and the delivery of 24/7 emergency care to all who come through their doors, regardless of ability to pay or insurance status. Since the hospital safety-net and emergency standby roles are funded through the provision of all outpatient services, expanding site-neutral cuts to additional HOPDs and the outpatient services they provide would endanger the critical role that they play in their communities, including access to care for patients, especially the most medically complex.</p><h2>Why?</h2><h3>Site-neutral payment policies endanger hospitals’ ability to continue to provide 24/7 access to emergency care and standby capability and capacity for disaster response.</h3><p>Hospitals have a higher cost structure than independent physician offices and ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) due in part to the costs of standby capability and capacity. Existing site-neutral policies reimburse certain offcampus HOPDs less for services while still expecting them to continue to provide the same level of service to their patients and communities. Hospitals are the only health care provider that must maintain emergency standby capability 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. This standby role is built into the cost structure of hospitals and supported by revenue from direct patient care — a situation that does not exist for any other type of provider. Following several years in which the nation experienced multiple emergencies and disruptions, we must do everything we can to ensure that hospitals have the resources needed to prepare for, and respond to, future disasters.</p><h3>HOPDs provide services that are not otherwise available in the community for vulnerable patient populations.</h3><p>Expanding site-neutral payment cuts would greatly endanger the critical role that HOPDs play in their communities, including providing convenient access to care for the most vulnerable and medically complex beneficiaries. HOPDs are more likely to treat Medicare beneficiaries who have both more chronic conditions and more severe chronic conditions; are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid; are more likely to have a prior hospitalization and higher prior emergency department (ED) use; and are more likely to live in communities with lower incomes.<a href="#fn1"><sup>1</sup></a> This is especially true in rural areas. Medicare beneficiaries in rural communities disproportionately rely on HOPDs to meet their increased health care needs. The more rural the county that a beneficiary lives in, the more likely it is that their visits will take place in an HOPD rather than a physician office.<a href="#fn1"><sup>1</sup></a></p><h3>HOPDs have more comprehensive licensing, accreditation and regulatory requirements than independent physician offices and ASCs.</h3><p>Hospitals’ safety net roles means that they also are subject to more comprehensive licensing, accreditation and regulatory requirements than other settings. This includes the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA), stricter requirements for disaster preparedness and response, stringent ventilation and infection control codes, quality assurance, accreditation, and fire and life safety codes. Site-neutral payment policies fail to account for these fundamental differences between hospitals and other sites of ambulatory care.</p><h3>Medicare already pays substantially less than the cost of caring for its beneficiaries.</h3><p>Medicare significantly underpays hospitals for the cost of providing care to patients. On average, Medicare pays only 82 cents for every dollar of hospital care provided to Medicare patients, leaving hospitals with $100 billion in annual Medicare shortfalls. As a result, two-thirds of all hospitals report negative Medicare margins.<a href="#fn2"><sup>2</sup></a> Additional site-neutral cuts will only exacerbate these shortfalls and reduce access to care for seniors.</p><p><strong>The AHA strongly opposes any further site-neutral payment cuts, which threaten access to care. Treating services as the same regardless of the site of care ignores the fact that only certain providers are capable of caring for the most acute and vulnerable — and therefore resource- intensive — patients. In addition, these same providers are the sole source of a wide range of high-acuity essential services, such as emergency and trauma care, the costs for which must be shared across all services.</strong></p><hr><h3>Notes</h3><ol><li id="fn1"><a href="/2024-01-25-analysis-hospitals-and-health-systems-are-critical-preserving-access-care-rural-communities">aha.org/2024-01-25-analysis-hospitals-and-health-systems-are-critical-preserving-access-care-rural-communities</a></li><li id="fn2"><a href="/2024-01-10-infographic-medicare-significantly-underpays-hospitals-cost-patient-care">aha.org/2024-01-10-infographic-medicare-significantly-underpays-hospitals-cost-patient-care</a></li></ol></div><div class="col-md-4"><a href="/system/files/media/file/2023/03/fact-sheet-medicare-hospital-outpatient-site-neutral-payment-policies-march-2023.pdf" target="_blank"><img src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/Page-1-Fact-Sheet-Medicare-Hospital-Outpatient-Site-Neutral-Payment-Policies-20250122.png" data-entity-uuid="43b22e2d-7f00-4638-9120-3d1946d47cdc" data-entity-type="file" alt="Fact Sheet: Medicare Hospital Outpatient Site-Neutral Payment Policies Updated January 2025, page 1." width="695" height="900"></a></div></div></div> Wed, 22 Jan 2025 12:00:00 -0600 Site-Neutral Payment Proposals <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 Site-Neutral Payment Proposals /news/headline/2024-11-12-aha-urges-congress-act-key-priorities-hospitals-end-year <p>In <a href="/2024-11-12-aha-urges-congress-act-key-priorities-lame-duck-session" target="_blank">comments</a> Nov. 12 to majority and minority leaders of the House and Senate, the AHA requested that Congress act on key priorities for hospitals and health systems before the end of 2024. AHA urged Congress to continue providing relief from Medicaid Disproportionate Share Hospital Payment cuts; continue the Medicare-dependent Hospitals and Low-volume Adjustment programs that expire Dec. 31; reject site-neutral payment proposals; and pass the Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act (H.R. 8702/ S. 4532), legislation that would reduce the wide variation in prior authorization methods in the Medicare Advantage program. <br> <br>"Hospitals and health systems are experiencing significant financial pressures that challenge their ability to provide 24/7 care for the patients and communities they serve," said AHA President and CEO Rick Pollack. "Increased expenses for drugs and supplies, inflation and the mounting burden due to certain commercial health insurer denial and delay practices continue to strain hospitals and health systems. At the same time, underpayments in reimbursements from Medicare and Medicaid do not keep pace with these mounting costs and exacerbate the problems hospitals are having."  <br> <br>AHA also urged Congress to extend the hospital-at-home waiver for five years through 2029; mitigate scheduled physician reimbursement cuts for 2025; and pass the Safety from Violence for Healthcare Employees Act (H.R. 2584/S. 2768), legislation that would provide federal protections from workplace violence for hospital workers, similar to protections for airport and airline workers.</p> Tue, 12 Nov 2024 15:48:16 -0600 Site-Neutral Payment Proposals /2024-11-12-aha-urges-congress-act-key-priorities-lame-duck-session <p>November 12, 2024</p><table><tbody><tr><td>The Honorable Mike Johnson<br>Speaker<br>U.S. House of Representatives<br>Washington, DC 20515</td><td>The Honorable Hakeem Jeffries<br>Democratic Leader<br>U.S. House of Representatives<br>Washington, D.C. 20515</td></tr><tr><td>The Honorable Charles E. Schumer<br>Majority Leader<br>United States Senate<br>Washington, DC 20510</td><td>The Honorable Mitch McConnell<br>Republican Leader<br>United States Senate<br>Washington, DC 20510</td></tr></tbody></table><p><br>Dear Speaker Johnson, Leader Schumer, Leader Jeffries, and Leader McConnell:</p><p>On behalf of our nearly 5,000 member hospitals, health systems and other health care organizations, our clinician partners — including more than 270,000 affiliated physicians, 2 million nurses and other caregivers — and the 43,000 health care leaders who belong to our professional membership groups, the ���������� Association (AHA) writes regarding the forthcoming government funding deadline.</p><p>Hospitals and health systems are experiencing significant financial pressures that challenge their ability to provide 24/7 care for the patients and communities they serve.  Increased expenses for drugs and supplies, inflation and the mounting burden due to certain commercial health insurer denial and delay practices continue to strain hospitals and health systems. At the same time, underpayments in reimbursements from Medicare and Medicaid do not keep pace with these mounting costs and exacerbate the problems hospitals are having.</p><p>As Congress begins to focus on its end-of-the-year work, America’s hospitals and health systems respectfully request that you consider the following priorities.</p><p><strong>Address the Medicaid</strong> <strong>Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) Payment Reductions. </strong>The Medicaid DSH program 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. Congress should continue to provide relief from the Medicaid DSH cuts.</p><p><strong>Protect Rural Communities’ Access to Care.</strong> We urge Congress to continue the Medicare-dependent Hospitals and Low-volume Adjustment programs. 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> We strongly oppose efforts to expand site-neutral payment cuts 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 in a safe manner for both patients and providers.</p><p>HOPDs provide care for Medicare patients who are more likely to be sicker and more medically complex than those treated at physicians’ offices. This is especially true in rural and other medically underserved communities. Additional cuts will directly impact the level of care and services available to vulnerable patients in these communities.</p><p>We also call 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. We urge Congress to pass the Improving Seniors Timely Access to Care Act (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 Telehealth and Hospital-at-home 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 provides a tremendous ability to leverage geographically dispersed provider capacity to support patient demand. Congress should permanently adopt telehealth waivers and expand the telehealth workforce.</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. We urge Congress to pass the Hospital Inpatient Services Modernization Act (H.R. 8260/S. 4350), extending the hospital-at-home waiver for five years through 2029.</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> Congress should enact 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><p>We appreciate your leadership and look forward to working together to ensure patients continue to have access to quality care in their communities.</p><p>Sincerely,</p><p>/s/</p><p>Richard J. Pollack<br>President & Chief Executive Officer</p> Tue, 12 Nov 2024 14:38:12 -0600 Site-Neutral Payment Proposals <p><strong>Join the AHA to discuss new policy framework, what to expect moving forward</strong></p><p>Join the AHA Site-neutral Advocacy Alliance to discuss a recently released policy framework and what to expect in the rest of the 118th Congress.</p><p class="text-align-center"><a href="https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Femail.advocacy.aha.org%2FNzEwLVpMTC02NTEAAAGWrJbiPJMcbKX66LdSa4YWxEP6A48kUJTaEX_T52uIPP-aUEXQe2MUpzXhp6Ym-1fve3u8IIw%3D&data=05%7C02%7Cdsamuels%40aha.org%7Cdf47b3c7944b444fae6008dd0039ec3e%7Cb9119340beb74e5e84b23cc18f7b36a6%7C0%7C0%7C638666970977247407%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=gxcc5zmNJh4Y%2FAu2NzAnQiZjgZLTDKPXCplBDKPfnU0%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank"><strong>Register</strong></a><strong> for the Nov. 14, 2 p.m. ET call.</strong></p><p>Senators Bill Cassidy, R-La., and Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., Nov. 1 released a <a href="https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Femail.advocacy.aha.org%2FNzEwLVpMTC02NTEAAAGWrJbiPAS0qEdE-EleaNNUxxCP1J9ezlQVbinCePD2jrzxx5TtDCRtIoek5-lFL-F4JEeWlRI%3D&data=05%7C02%7Cdsamuels%40aha.org%7Cdf47b3c7944b444fae6008dd0039ec3e%7Cb9119340beb74e5e84b23cc18f7b36a6%7C0%7C0%7C638666970977263604%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=WKS8fVI1IBye12CAp8GtVEzrWu6JthGvOTrn0VJU%2BI4%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank">policy framework</a> detailing a plan to impose site-neutral payments on hospitals, which the AHA <a href="https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Femail.advocacy.aha.org%2FNzEwLVpMTC02NTEAAAGWrJbiPMgIZvpCHYvayKgrjJhybSk8xeYxBUel6VIlhqRS0T-rrgoEijLWS9fkhryIxZz1y6c%3D&data=05%7C02%7Cdsamuels%40aha.org%7Cdf47b3c7944b444fae6008dd0039ec3e%7Cb9119340beb74e5e84b23cc18f7b36a6%7C0%7C0%7C638666970977280432%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=wlMXlXBcvmAXBoDYItNJ7Hr%2BEcQKp1yY3nnlnwipCmQ%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank">said</a>, “will limit and eliminate critical hospital-based care, resulting in increased wait times and decreased access to care for patients.” The AHA will discuss the framework and its implications during the Nov. 14 Advocacy Alliance call.</p><p><strong>Site-neutral advocacy resources</strong><br>Visit the AHA’s <a href="https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Femail.advocacy.aha.org%2FNzEwLVpMTC02NTEAAAGWrJbiPLoV1ZjqcBcna0LLoVgq6_a0p13AcfXxge2Ehm_-AQUCvyfysMi-9TMyeVOMmj5_BS0%3D&data=05%7C02%7Cdsamuels%40aha.org%7Cdf47b3c7944b444fae6008dd0039ec3e%7Cb9119340beb74e5e84b23cc18f7b36a6%7C0%7C0%7C638666970977297213%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=nD6Luntatk2PQVneAECosib14fkObdnn2PYgoquftFc%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank">Site-neutral Payment Proposals Advocacy Issue resource page</a> for additional resources to assist in your advocacy efforts.</p><p><strong>Further questions</strong><br>If you have further questions, please contact Jason Kleinman, AHA’s director of federal relations, at <a href="https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Femail.advocacy.aha.org%2FNzEwLVpMTC02NTEAAAGWrJbiPE8_t4o1ZoGEB2FbiqzqUfSOOrUz-p6woJy1UI5d7CYH1IwPSTWJB4rKwXMrc-ePZ18%3D&data=05%7C02%7Cdsamuels%40aha.org%7Cdf47b3c7944b444fae6008dd0039ec3e%7Cb9119340beb74e5e84b23cc18f7b36a6%7C0%7C0%7C638666970977313164%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=Xj%2FZaJauM3Vi8HaJj8vgPlZY3x%2FNLG8jrawdcEjLQJY%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank">jkleinman@aha.org</a>.</p> Fri, 08 Nov 2024 08:09:26 -0600 Site-Neutral Payment Proposals