Media Relations

Media Relations / en Sun, 27 Apr 2025 20:24:03 -0500 Thu, 09 May 19 14:54:18 -0500 Statement On Rand Study On Hospital Prices /press-releases/2019-05-09-statement-rand-study-hospital-prices Melinda Hatton General Counsel �� Association &nbsp; May 9, 2019 &nbsp; We have a number of concerns about the report released today by RAND Corp. Most notably the authors themselves point out that the study’s key limitation is its small sample size – less than 5 percent of all covered persons in about half of all states, and just 2 percent of the 181 million Americans with employer-sponsored insurance nationally. &nbsp; Further, Medicare payment rates, which reimburse below the cost of care, should not be held as a standard benchmark for hospital prices. In 2017, hospitals received payment of only 87 cents for every dollar spent caring for Medicare patients. Simply shifting to prices based on artificially low Medicare payment rates would strip vital resources from already strapped communities, seriously impeding access to care. Hospitals would not have the resources needed to keep our doors open, innovate to adapt to a rapidly changing field and maintain the services communities need and expect. &nbsp; Recent data from the National Health Expenditure report released by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in December 2018 show that price growth for hospital services was just 1.7 percent in 2017. Similarly, a report from the Altarum Center for Value in Health Care found hospital-spending growth in 2018 was lower than all other categories of services, including physician and clinical services and prescription drugs. &nbsp; The AHA is committed to improving patients’ access to information on the price of their care. It’s important that individuals understand how much they will need to pay for their care, specifically their out-of-pocket costs. Yet hospitals, health systems and other providers do not always have access to detailed data on health plan benefit and beneficiary cost-sharing amounts; rather, insurers hold this information. We are encouraged by the growing ability for providers and insurers to work together to develop tools that they can use to help respond to patient pricing inquiries. &nbsp; ### &nbsp; Marie Johnson, (202) 626-2351 <a href="mailto:mjohnson@aha.org">mjohnson@aha.org</a> Arika Trim, (202) 626-2319 <a href="mailto:atrim@aha.org">atrim@aha.org</a> &nbsp; Thu, 09 May 2019 14:54:18 -0500 Media Relations Statement On White House Surprise Billing Event /press-releases/2019-05-09-statement-white-house-surprise-billing-event &nbsp; Rick Pollack AHA President and CEO �� Association &nbsp; May 9, 2019 &nbsp; America’s hospitals and health systems are fully committed to protecting patients from unanticipated medical bills that they may incur because of unexpected gaps in their health coverage or as a result of medical emergencies. The last thing a patient should worry about in a health crisis is a surprise medical bill. The AHA commends the Administration and Congress for their work to find solutions to this problem. &nbsp; The AHA has urged Congress to enact legislation that would protect patients from surprise bills. We can achieve this by simply banning balance billing. This would protect patients from any bills above their in-network cost-sharing obligations. Untested proposals such as bundling payments would create significant disruption to provider networks and contracting without benefiting patients. We look forward to our continued work with the Administration and Congress on workable solutions to stop surprise bills.&nbsp; &nbsp; ### Thu, 09 May 2019 14:46:19 -0500 Media Relations AHA Statement on Passing of Robert Pear /press-releases/2019-05-08-aha-statement-passing-robert-pear AHA Statement on Passing of Robert Pear &nbsp; Rick Pollack AHA President and CEO &nbsp; May 8, 2019 &nbsp; Robert Pear was a giant of journalism. A story with Robert’s name in the byline was a must-read for all the policy world. And yet, for all of his achievements – including writing more than 6,700 articles in&nbsp;The New York Times&nbsp;– the outpouring of memories and tributes make clear that his talent and tenacity as a reporter were surpassed only by his compassion. &nbsp; The nation has lost a thoughtful and insightful reporter who helped bring much-needed clarity to complicated issues that affect us all. His integrity and professionalism will be part of his legacy and serve as a role model for future generations of journalists. &nbsp; The AHA sends our condolences to his family, friends and colleagues. Robert will be sorely missed. &nbsp; ### Wed, 08 May 2019 15:57:36 -0500 Media Relations