Annual AHA Membership Meeting News Coverage

Rep. Richard Neal, D-Mass., ranking member, House Ways and Means Committee, chatted with Steve Walsh, president and CEO, Massachusetts Health & Hospital Association, on a range of health care topics, including the crucial role hospitals play in their communities and how the expiration of the enhanced premium tax credits at the end of last year are affecting the political discourse surrounding hospitals and health care.

Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., a member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, discussed his priorities for rural hospitals in Missouri and across the nation.

Pulitzer Prize-winning historian and New York Times bestselling author Jon Meacham discussed the nature of American politics through pivotal moments in U.S. history.

Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., chairwoman of the Senate Democratic Steering and Policy Committee, spoke on the need for Congress to address reductions in federal funding from the budget reconciliation bill passed in July 2025, prior authorization challenges presented by insurers, strengthening the health care workforce and improving telehealth in rural areas.

CMS Deputy Administrator and Director of Medicare Chris Klomp and Deputy Administrator and Chief of Staff Stephanie Carlton talked with AHA Board Chair Marc Boom, M.D., president and CEO, Houston Methodist, about CMS’ policies in the past year and looking ahead on affordability, commercial health plan accountability, drug prices and the Rural Health Transformation Fund.

Rep. Blake Moore, R-Utah, joined Bill Gassen, president and CEO of Sanford Health and AHA chair-elect, for a fireside chat.

The 2026 AHA Annual Meeting began today with Tina Freese Decker, president and CEO of Corewell Health and 2025 AHA board chair, who discussed the need for leaders to approach health care with skill and compassion and to share patient stories with policymakers as they make critical decisions that impact the field.

Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., vice chair of the Republican Conference and member of the Senate Finance Committee and its Subcommittee on Health Care, joined Denise Webber, president and CEO of Stillwater Medical Center, for a conversation on building a health care workforce in rural areas, regulatory relief, and how prior authorizations, particularly from Medicare Advantage providers, disrupt patient care and delay payments to hospitals.

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said Congress must set aside partisanship to address urgent health care issues, including affordability and access to care.

Jim VandeHei, CEO of Axios; Marc Boom, M.D., AHA board chair and president and CEO of Houston Methodist; Anne Klibanski, M.D., president and CEO of Mass General Brigham; Jonathan Perlin, M.D., president and CEO of Joint Commission; and Ladd Wiley, senior vice president of global corporate affairs, public policy and advocacy for Epic, all participated in the panel discussion “AI in Health Care: Navigating Policy, Regulation, and the Road Ahead."

AHA Board Immediate Past Chair Tina Freese Decker, president and CEO, Corewell Health, and Rob Allen, president and CEO, Intermountain Health, participated in a discussion moderated by Jim Skogsbergh, former chair of the AHA Board of Trustees, for a discussion about the opportunities and challenges facing health care leaders in today’s landscape.

Two days from now, the AHA will welcome more than 1,000 health care leaders to our 2026 Annual Membership Meeting in Washington, D.C.

The AHA announced April 13 that Deborah Bowen, president and CEO of the American College of Healthcare Executives, along with four retiring state hospital association executives, will receive its 2026 AHA Board of Trustees Award during the AHA Annual Membership Meeting in Washington, D.C., for their contributions to the AHA and the health care field.

More than 1,000 leaders from hospitals and health systems across the country will gather in Washington, D.C., early next week at the 2026 AHA Annual Membership Meeting.

Less than two weeks remain to register for the 2026 AHA Annual Membership Meeting, which will be held April 19-21 in Washington, D.C.

At the AHA Annual Membership Meeting, many passionate and dedicated people come together to focus on ways to tell our story, educate policymakers and advance our advocacy agenda.

Registration is ongoing for the 2026 AHA Annual Membership meeting, which will be held April 19-21 in Washington, D.C.

Registration continues for the 2026 AHA Annual Membership meeting, which will be held April 19-21 in Washington, D.C.

Rep. Buddy Carter, R-Ga., spoke to AHA Annual Meeting attendees in a fireside chat moderated by Aishah Hasnie, congressional correspondent for Fox News.

In a wide-ranging conversation May 6 at the 2025 AHA Annual Membership Meeting, Rep. Kim Schrier, D-Wash., spoke about the upcoming budget reconciliation process, the youth mental health crisis, the Department of Health and Human Services’ potential action on vaccines, and the importance of protecting Medicaid.