AHA urges Congress to oppose H.R. 5378 unless site-neutral cuts eliminated

The AHA today urged members of the House of Representatives to oppose H.R. 5378, legislation scheduled to be voted on tonight, unless site-neutral provisions are removed from the bill. Among other provisions, the bill would suspend for two years the Medicaid disproportionate share hospital reductions scheduled to go into effect on Jan. 19 and permanently implement reductions to Medicare payments for drug administration services in off-campus hospital outpatient departments.

“While the AHA appreciates inclusion of a two-year delay on DSH cuts, we have been very clear regarding the harm that would be done to our nation’s hospitals if so-called site-neutral cuts to Medicare were adopted,” AHA President and CEO Rick Pollack said in a statement shared with reporters and House members. “We have strongly urged that those cuts be eliminated from this legislation. If Medicare site-neutral cuts remain part of this package, we ask that Congress oppose H.R. 5378 (The Lower Costs, More Transparency Act) until such changes are made.”