On Capitol Hill, hospital leaders urge Congress to protect patients

Nearly 100 hospital and health system leaders today came together in Washington, D.C., to urge lawmakers to take action on critical issues facing patients and protect access to care. During an AHA Advocacy Day briefing, AHA Executive Vice President Tom Nickels gave updates on Capitol Hill developments and outlined some of the association’s main priorities. These include protecting patients from surprise medical bills while opposing rate-setting; preserving payments for legitimate differences between care sites; and delaying the Medicaid Disproportionate Share Hospital cuts, now scheduled to take effect Nov. 21. Nickels also discussed separate legislation being considered in House and Senate committees that aim to tackle the high prices of prescription drugs. After the briefing, hospital and health system leaders met with lawmakers and staff on Capitol Hill to engage them on these issues.