Advocacy Issue: Physician Workforce

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) May 11 issued its hospital inpatient prospective payment system (PPS) and long-term care hospital (LTCH) PPS proposed rule for fiscal year (FY) 2021. In addition to proposing a 3.1% increase in inpatient PPS payments for 2021, the rule would require disclosure of certain payer-negotiated rates and makes changes to Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) payments, Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell (CAR T) therapy payment and quality incentive programs.

AHA Position

Congress should take a number of actions to help hospitals and health systems support today’s workforce and ensure a future pipeline of professionals to meet the nation’s increasing demands for care, including:

• Protecting health care workers from violence
• Increasing the number of GME positions
• Attracting caregivers to underserved areas
• Mitigating health care provider shortages
• Addressing administrative burdens
• Supporting loan repayment programs

Key Resources

• Fact Sheet: Increased Graduate Medical Education Needed to Preserve Access to Care
• Letter: AHA Supports the Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act of 2023 (H.R. 2389)
• Comments: AHA Provides Information for Hearing on “Examining Existing Federal Programs to Build a Stronger Health Workforce and Improve Primary Care”
• Boardroom Brief: How Boards Can Support Workforce Behavioral Health