March 12, 2010

The Long and Winding Road

Rich Umbdenstock, AHA President and CEO

For more than a year, we've engaged in the historic and, at times, contentious effort to reform health care in America. We all know the challenges: skyrocketing insurance premiums, rising costs and too many without coverage. That's why hospitals have pushed for meaningful reform that is comprehensive and balanced, and financed as a shared responsibility across all stakeholders. There's still time to improve the final package - by reducing DSH cuts, fixing the readmissions policy, excluding critical access hospitals from the Independent Payment Advisory Board - and protecting provisions that expand the 340B drug discount program and ban physician self-referral. We're close to the end of the road: don't let off the gas pedal just yet. Your patients and communities depend on your efforts.

Thanks,

Question or Comments?
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