Press Release

AHA Statement on Senate Finance Committee Passage of Health Reform Bill

Contact:
Elizabeth Lietz - (202) 626-2284
Alicia Mitchell - (202) 626-2339

Washington D.C.

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Rich Umbdenstock
President and CEO, American Hospital Association

October 13, 2009

Today, the Senate Finance Committee reached an important milestone on the road to health reform.

America's hospitals applaud Chairman Baucus for his leadership in moving the process forward and listening to the concerns of the hospital community.  Important provisions such as delivery system and payment reforms, regional co-ops and a ban on self-referral will guarantee patients and communities will continue to have access to high-quality care.   

Like Chairman Baucus and other members of the committee, we remain concerned about the need to further expand the level of coverage in the bill.  As efforts begin to merge the two Senate bills, we will work to ensure that even more of the uninsured have health care coverage.

About AHA

The AHA is a not-for-profit association of health care provider organizations and individuals that are committed to the improvement of health in their communities. The AHA is the national advocate for its members, which includes more than 5,000 member hospitals, health systems and other health care organizations, and 38,000 individual members. Founded in 1898, the AHA provides education for health care leaders and is a source of information on health care issues and trends.