Stacey Hughes, AHA’s executive vice president for government relations and public policy, discussed key messages that hospital and health system leaders should share with their lawmakers on Capitol Hill this week.  

They include reject funding cuts and extend key policies to ensure patients’ access to care; support and strengthen the health care workforce; hold commercial insurers accountable for practices that delay, deny and disrupt care; and bolster support to enhance cybersecurity of hospitals and the entire health care system.

Hughes talked about how Congress must pass or extend a number of policies that expire at the end of the year. These include policies on telehealth and hospital-at-home, and key programs that support access to care in rural areas.  

In addition, she spoke about the importance of getting cosponsors for the Safety from Violence for Healthcare Employees (SAVE) Act (H.R. 2584/S. 2768), which would provide federal protections for health care workers similar to those that apply to aircraft and airport workers, to bolster support for getting it passed this year. 

Related News Articles

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
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…
Headline
The AHA Sept. 4 expressed support for the Hospitals As Naloxone Distribution Sites Act (H.R. 5120), legislation that would require Medicare and Medicaid to…
Headline
The Senate Appropriations Committee July 31 advanced the fiscal year 2026 appropriations bill for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services,…
Chairperson's File
Public
The recently enacted One Big Beautiful Bill Act will bring big changes to health care. AHA President and CEO Rick Pollack joined me for a Leadership Dialogue…