ACTION NEEDED: Ask Lawmakers to Protect Access to Care, Support Hospitals

Senators and representatives are back in Washington, D.C., with several items on their agenda. Funding for the federal government, including certain important health care programs, is set to expire Oct. 1. Congress must pass 12 appropriations bills by Sept. 30 to fund the federal government for the next fiscal year. If lawmakers fail to meet that deadline, they will need to enact a continuing resolution temporarily extending current funding levels to avoid a government shutdown.

Congress also must act before Oct. 1 to extend key health care policies, including the Low-volume Adjustment and Medicare-Dependent Hospital programs, telehealth and hospital-at-home programs, as well as the moratorium on Medicaid Disproportionate Share Hospital cuts. Additionally, Congress needs to act before the end of the year to extend the enhanced premium tax credits that help individuals and families purchase insurance on the Health Insurance Marketplace.

As part of these conversations, lawmakers also are considering deficit reduction efforts that could include further funding cuts to health care. It is important that your legislators understand hospitals and health systems cannot sustain any additional funding reductions, especially as we are facing the implementation of Medicaid cuts in the OBBBA.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

• Contact your senators and representatives. The AHA has provided a map of congressional districts and contact information to make it easy to identify and get in touch with your lawmakers.
• Tell them how their decisions impact your ability to deliver care. Use these tips to tell your hospital’s story.
• Share this alert with your board members, senior leaders and staff. Encourage them to reach out to their legislators with their concerns.

ADVOCACY ISSUES AND AHA RESOURCES

• Extend the Enhanced Premium Tax Credits. The enhanced premium tax credits help individuals and families purchase insurance on the Health Insurance Marketplace. Policies enabling these credits will expire at the end of 2025. Urge your members of Congress to extend the enhanced premium tax credits that enable millions of people to have health care coverage.
• Reject Site-neutral Payments. Site-neutral payments would compensate hospital outpatient departments the same as independent physician offices and other ambulatory sites of care, ignoring the very different level of care provided by hospitals and the needs of the patients and communities cared for in that setting. Ask your members of Congress to reject efforts to enact additional site-neutral payment proposals.
• Protect the 340B Drug Pricing Program. Hospitals depend on the 340B program to manage rising prescription drug costs and expand access to care for patients. Ask your members of Congress to oppose any harmful changes to the 340B program.
• Extend Telehealth and Hospital-at-Home Programs. These programs enable providers to care for patients at home, without having to make long drives to a facility. These programs are set to expire Sept. 30. Urge your lawmakers to extend these programs so providers can ensure continuity of care.
• Prevent Medicaid Disproportionate Share Hospital Cuts. The Medicaid DSH program provides essential financial assistance to hospitals that care for our nation’s most vulnerable populations, including children and those who are disabled and elderly. The Medicaid DSH cut for fiscal year 2026 is $8 billion and will go into effect on Oct. 1 unless Congress acts. Urge your lawmakers to provide relief from the Medicaid DSH cuts, given the vital need for the program.
• Extend the Low-volume Adjustment and Medicare-dependent Hospital Programs. 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 action from Congress, the enhanced LVA and MDH programs will expire Sept. 30. Urge your lawmakers to extend these vital programs.
• Protect Health Care Workers from Violence. The Save Healthcare Workers Act (H.R. 3178/S. 1600) is bipartisan legislation that would make it a federal crime to assault a hospital staff member on the job. Urge your lawmakers to support this legislation.

Your voice is extremely important, and your legislators listen to you. Be ready to tell your hospital’s story. Prepare for a successful encounter with these tips and best practices for meeting with lawmakers and hosting them at your hospital. Visit the AHA Action Center for information and resources to assist you in your advocacy.

FURTHER QUESTIONS

If you have further questions, please contact the AHA at 800-424-4301.