In the Moment: Highlights of the 2023 AHA Annual Meeting
Tuesday, April 25
10:05 a.m.
FBI Director Christopher Wray was the final speaker for this year's annual meeting, and he discussed two major threats to the health care industry: cyberattacks, and workplace violence. He detailed how the U.S. health care system has become a valuable target for cyberattacks, both from nation-states and from independent cybercriminals, and how hospitals can team up with the FBI to defend against such attacks and, ideally, prevent them from occurring in the first place. “The best time to patch the roof,” he said, “is before there’s a leak.” He also discussed how local FBI field offices have teamed up with hospitals and health care systems to address wide-ranging issues such as mass-casualty incidents, identifying and deterring those who may commit violence in a hospital setting, and active-shooter training.
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9:35 a.m.
Rep. Adrian Smith, R-Neb., said he supports making permanent some of the flexibilities that were initiated during the COVID-19 pandemic, stating that, because of flexibilities, the health care system is better off now than it was prior to the public health emergency. Smith, a member of the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Health, also expressed dissatisfaction with the 96-hour rule, saying it neither produces good results nor does it reflect the unique needs of critical access hospitals in different parts of the country.
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8:57 a.m.
Mary Beth Kingston, CNO of Advocate Health and AHA board member, moderated a discussion between Rep. Madeleine Dean, D-Pa., and Rep. Larry Bucshon, R-Ind., and their co-sponsorship of the SAVE Act, which would make assaulting a health care worker a federal crime, similar to those protections granted to airline workers.
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8:35 a.m.
Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., stressed that patients expect hospitals to put them first, and challenged the field to have difficult, “tough conversations” about how to ensure that continues to happen. She also praised hospitals for their efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.
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8:28 a.m.
Sen. Todd Young, R-Ind., spoke to attendees about the role of Congress as the health care sector moves beyond the COVID-19 pandemic, a time when the entire country “learned just how essential essential workers are.” He spoke on various pieces of upcoming legislation, as well as his support for the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act, which passed in 2022 and aims to reduce and prevent suicide, burnout and mental and behavioral health conditions among health care workers.
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8:20 a.m.
The final day of the 2023 AHA Annual Membership Meeting is here. Sen. Roger Marshall, M.D., R-Kan., opened the annual meeting federal forum closing plenary by speaking on a range of issues facing hospitals in his home state, including about workforce and the need for a rural emergency hospital model to support remote communities.
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Monday, April 24
6:30 p.m.
Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi addresses the AHA crowd immediately after receiving the 2023 AHA Award of Honor. Pelosi championed the work of AHA members during her speech. She also recognized Wendell Primus, her former senior health policy advisor, who received the AHA Honorary Life Membership Award. With that, Day 2 is a wrap! Back for the final day tomorrow.
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4:30 p.m.
We've got a full house for Politics Applied: Advocacy in the 118th Congress.
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3 p.m.
White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator Ashish Jha, M.D., gave an update on the state of the pandemic in the U.S. during the Federal Forum Plenary. "The bottom line is we're in a much better place," Jha said, crediting the advancement of vaccines and the role of hospitals saving thousands of lives across the country.
Dr. Jha also reflected on his time as the White House COVID-19 response coordinator, which will come to an end when the Public Health Emergency (PHE) ends on May 11. As COVID-19 has transitioned from a pandemic to an endemic condition, Dr. Jha looked at the lessons learned – namely, how to normalize and manage the virus in the future. Part of the fight, he said, must be against unsound, unscientific and biased information. “It is the obligation of all of us to flood the zone with good information,” he said. “The best way to counter bad information is with good information.”
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2:40 p.m.
The Veterans Affairs health care system is home to many shared challenges with its non-federal counterparts, said Shereef Elnahal, M.D., the department’s under secretary for health, during the Federal Forum Plenary. Elnahal, who spoke during a conversation with AHA Board Chair Elect Joanne Conroy, M.D., president and CEO of Dartmouth Health, said recruitment and access to care are at the top of that list.
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1:30 p.m.
HAPPENING NOW: A conversation between Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, Washington Post Associate Editor and MSNBC Host Jonathan Capehart, and journalist, bestselling author, and former first lady of California Maria Shriver. The pair discussed Alzheimer's disease and what it's like when it affects a family member, as well as the impact on their loved ones. Shriver is the founder of The Women's Alzheimer's Movement.
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1:20 p.m.
AHA Board Chair John Haupert honored recipients of AHA's 2023 leadership awards during the AHA Recognition Luncheon. Winners recognized during the ceremony were:
- Board of Trustees Award – Marna P. Borgstrom, former CEO of Yale New Haven Health in New Haven, Conn., and Andy Carter, president and CEO of The Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania (HAP)
- Justin Ford Kimball Award – Jim Hinton, former president and CEO of Baylor Scott & White Health
- Foster G. McGaw Award – Memorial Hermann Health System
Memorial Hermann, a non-profit health system serving the Houston area, was recognized for its leadership and breadth in building programs, services and initiatives that address the varied health needs of its patients and community. The health system is receiving $100,000 toward programs that further these goals.
Three finalists for the Foster G. McGaw Prize were also recognized for their community health programs, with each receiving $10,000. These finalists were:
- Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles
- GBMC HealthCare System in Baltimore
- Meritus Health, Inc. in Hagerstown, Md.
Learn more about this year's Foster G. McGaw winner and finalists here.
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10:45 a.m.
HAPPENING NOW: A compelling presentation of policy-relevant research on the financial pressures facing hospitals by Kaufman Hall senior VP Lisa Goldstein. If you’re wondering the extent to which hospitals are hurting, this is the data that backs up the stories your colleagues tell about what keeps them up at night.
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10:20 a.m.
Sesno and Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., discussed a range of issues regarding cybersecurity in health care. Warner emphasized the importance of cybersecurity and also spoke of the need for a clear federal chain of command in terms of combatting cyber attacks in the health care system; introducing a device “bill of sale” so that tracking the code contained in medical devices ranging from X-rays to wearable devices can be easily tracked and analyzed for vulnerabilities; and “cyber hygiene” – making cybersecurity an innate part of the health care system, not an add-on.
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10:15 a.m.
Standing ovation for Jim Skogsbergh, co-CEO of Advocate Health, who was presented with AHA's Distinguished Service Award by AHA Board Chair John Haupert. Skogsbergh was recognized for his long career as a leader on issues of industry transformation and innovation, health care reform and patient safety, and population health and transition to value-based care, along with his abiding commitment to the communities Advocate Health serves. LEARN MORE
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9:35 a.m.
Sesno and Hughes wrapping up their discussing now after great insight on other legislative and regulatory issues facing hospitals and health care systems, including the end of the Public Health Emergency (PHE) on May 11, preserving the 340B program, and workforce issues – including the necessity of passing the Safety from Violence for Healthcare Employees (SAVE) act, which would make violence against healthcare workers a federal crime.
CMS Principal Deputy Administrator Jonathan Blum and AHA Senior Vice President of Public Policy Ashley Thompson immediately follow them and begin their discussion on the latest in CMS policy developments.
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9:10 a.m.
Frank Sesno and Stacy Hughes start their discussion talking about the 118th Congress and this week's vote on the debt ceiling in the U.S. House of Representatives.
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8:56 a.m.
"Without an adequate workforce our system breaks down — simple as that," says AHA CEO Rick Pollack, who is discussing workforce as well as diversity, equity and inclusion now.
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8:40 a.m.
Army Sgt. Randy Wight from Musicians on Call opens the Federal Forum Opening Plenary with a few beautiful songs, wrapping up with a great rendition of the national anthem.
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7:52 a.m.
A few more early birds have settled here in the AHA Power Up Lounge, and more are making their way in for Day 2. Coming up at 8:30: The Federal Forum Opening Plenary where AHA CEO Rick Pollack will begin by welcoming all attendees. Joining him will be Stacy Hughes, AHA executive vice president of government relations and public policy and Frank Sesno, former Washington bureau chief for CNN, who will discuss key issues on Capitol Hill impacting hospitals and health systems, as well as other issues in AHA's advocacy agenda. The session also includes a fireside chat with CMS Principal Deputy Administrator Jonathan Blum and Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va. AHA's 2022 Distinguished Service Award winner, Jim Skogsbergh, MHA, FACHE, will also be honored. Join us!
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7:45 a.m.
For early risers, the Health Care Leadership Breakfast delivered on its promise of entertaining leadership advice from a long-standing military leader. General James Conway (retired), United States Marine Corps, shared humorous stories from his career while encouraging leaders to elevate their skills to better serve their teams. General Conway shared that established leaders should already embody moral courage and the desire to serve, but even established leaders could benefit from a “tweak” including:
- Always endeavoring to do the right thing, even when it’s hard.
- Communicating regularly with your team.
- Creating the environment in which you work.
- Setting the example.
- “Power down” by passing authority to your team while retaining the responsibility of the result.
- Keeping your head down and focus on your mission, not your own advancement.
- Maintaining a sense of humor.
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7:30 a.m.
Rise and shine! Day 2 of the AHA Annual Membership Meeting kicked off this morning when AHA Board Chair, John Haupert, president and CEO, Grady Memorial Health, presented two federal hospital leaders with awards recognizing their outstanding service to the health care field. These awards recognize uniformed and non-uniformed federal health care leaders who have distinguished themselves through singularly significant or innovative achievements and leadership that have contributed substantially to the mission of the federal health system.
2022 Award for Excellence: Captain Kimberly D. Davis, MD, CEO (Director), Naval Medical Center San Diego, United States Navy
2022 Special Achievement Award: Captain Cody Morcom, USAF, PharmD, Commander’s Support Staff Flight Commander and Medical Group Executive Officer, United States Air Force, 436th Medical Group, Dover Air Force Base, Dover, Del.
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Sunday, April 23
4:15 p.m.
Former FTC commissioner Noah Phillips discusses the federal antitrust landscape with Josh Soven, a partner at law firm Paul Weiss.
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3:30 p.m.
The role of artificial intelligence and its future in health care was the chief topic during an April 23rd meeting of AHA’s Committee on Health Strategy and Innovation. Key questions for this discussion included the role of AI in diagnosis, whether its expanded use in health care will invite closer regulation by the FDA or another government agency, and how to ensure that the information yielded by AI is accurate and serves the greater interest of patient care. The discussion raised more questions than answers, but the AHA committee was clear about its desire to “be a voice at the table” as the integration of AI into many aspects of health care continues. The group will continue the discussion when it meets again at AHA’s Leadership Summit in July.
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3:15 p.m.
Patrice Harris, M.D., M.A., CEO and co-founder of eMed, and past president of the American Meidcal Association and Arpan Waghray, M.D., CEO, Well Being Trust at Providence Health and past chair of AHA’s committee on behavioral health, discussed challenges and solutions for communities in a discussion moderated by Harsh Trivedi, M.D., MBA, president and CEO of Sheppard Pratt. In a wide-ranging discussion, the panelists discussed the difficulties in accessing care, workforce challenges and the administrative challenges that arise from the burdens of, among other issues, prior authorizations and paperwork. Solutions included better integration between mental and physical health; pairing with community partners and local schools; and insisting on greater transparency from insurance companies.
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2:40 p.m.
At the Advancing Health podcast booth, Joy A. Lewis (pictured right), senior vice president for health equity strategies and executive director of the Institute for Diversity and Health Equity, records a live podcast with Asha Rodriguez (pictured left), vice president, facility executive at Atrium Health. Rodriguez is a member of The Roundtable for Black Women CEOs, which was launched by IFDHE in 2022 to help facilitate meaningful connections and raise the visibility of Black women leading hospitals and health systems as CEOs.
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2 p.m.
A discussion on dramatic changes and challenges in post-acute care included Scott Peterson, CEO of Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Franklin, Denise Keefe, executive vice president of Continuing Health for Advocate Health, and Erin Shadbolt, COO of Ascension Post-Acute and At-Home Services. The session was moderated by AHA Board Member Jim Prister, president and CEO, RML Specialty Hospital.
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1:30 p.m.
Greetings! We are back and the action has been nonstop for Day 1 of this year's AHA Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C. Happening now: A session for first-time attendees and new members where they're learning how to maximize their experience this week.
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Here's a recap of the action from earlier in the afternoon and this morning.
Noon
Mmmmm...politics! These delicious versions of David Axelrod and Karl Rove were available outside of the AHA PAC meeting, where the former presidential advisors informed PAC-donating members about the current state of the national political landscape and what may lie ahead for Democrats and Republicans.
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10 a.m.
The AHA sustainability workgroup listened intently to this session, which was Pathways to Health Systems Sustainability and De-carbonization. The discussion was moderated by Michael McGinnis from the National Academy of Medicine.
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9 a.m.
The Allied Meeting between the State, Regional and Metropolitan Hospital Association Executives was held, where AHA President Rick Pollack recognized a few long-time executives. AHA President John Haupert also discussed current issues hospitals are facing, while AHA staff discussed advocacy efforts on 340B, site-neutral policy, workforce and other issues, as well as the latest on AHA's Telling the Hospital story initiative.
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7 a.m.
The registration desk opened, and the 2023 AHA Annual Meeting officially kicked off!
