Senate urged to support hospitals in next COVID-19 legislative package

More than 350 hospital and health system leaders from across the country today participated in an AHA Virtual Advocacy Day to urge senators to include priorities that support hospitals and health systems in the next COVID-19 legislative package.
AHA President and CEO Rick Pollack and AHA Executive Vice President Tom Nickels provided the latest from Capitol Hill and then hospital leaders urged their senators to include the following in the next legislative package:
- full forgiveness for accelerated payments for hospitals;
- additional dollars for the emergency provider relief fund;
- appropriate liability protections to front-line medical providers and facilities;
- additional support for front-line health care personnel; and
- maintaining health benefits for individuals and families and increasing coverage options for those who are uninsured.
“When it comes to getting assistance, we believe we should be at the front of the line … because we are on the front lines,” Pollack said.
Related News Articles
Headline
The Senate Sept. 19 failed to adopt a continuing resolution by a 44-48 vote that would have funded the government through Nov. 21. The CR was passed by…
Headline
The House Appropriations Committee today released bill text for a continuing resolution to fund the government through Nov. 21. The bill also extends key…
Headline
The AHA Sept. 15 expressed support for the Ensuring Access to Essential Providers Act, legislation that would require Medicare Advantage plans to cover…
Headline
Newsweek’s Access Health newsletter today features a conversation with AHA Chair Tina Freese Decker, president and CEO of Corewell Health in Michigan, where…
Headline
The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health Sept. 10 advanced the Title VIII Nursing Workforce Reauthorization Act (H.R. 3593), AHA-supported…
Headline
The House Appropriations Committee Sept. 9 advanced the fiscal year 2026 appropriations bill for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education…