Perspective: All Eyes and Efforts on Capitol Hill

For nearly 20 grueling months, hospitals and health systems — and their steadfast front-line caregivers — have risen to the incredible challenges caused by COVID-19. 

As your voice in Washington, D.C., we have worked with two Administrations and lawmakers from both sides of the aisle and both sides of Capitol Hill to marshal federal resources, funding and facts to support your vital mission.

Right now, we’re immersed in what will be an incredibly busy few months on Capitol Hill. Congress is working on many fronts, with deadlines hitting as early as the end of this month. 

Among other efforts, Congress must pass a measure to keep the government funded by Sept. 30 and solvent by raising the nation's debt limit by sometime in October. At the same time, Congress is working to pass two other pieces of key legislation — one focused on physical infrastructure and one on human infrastructure. 

These packages are opportunities for us to go on offense and advance some of our key priorities, including, but not limited to: urging Congress to include investments in the health care workforce, behavioral health, the accessibility and affordability of health care coverage, emergency preparedness and the health care supply chain, telehealth and cybersecurity. We’re also pushing to get relief for any hospitals participating in the 340B Drug Pricing Program that had to leave the program due to changes in their patient mix as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. And on a separate legislative track, we are working to allow all hospitals more time to use their Provider Relief Fund dollars.

These issues directly affect patient care and our ability to advance health in America. They deserve critical resources, and we are working to make that happen. 
At the same time, we have to play defense on a number of issues, including avoiding any provider reimbursement cuts as offsets to fund these efforts that would further strain financial resources for hospitals and health systems. 

What we hear most often today from hospital and health system leaders across the country is that workforce has risen to the top of everyone’s list. Caregivers are understandably tired and stressed from battling COVID-19, and some are even starting to leave the profession. Be certain, we are working to ensure that proposals that address this matter are front and center.

We’ve developed resources you can use to talk with your lawmakers about all of these important issues. There undoubtedly will be many twists and turns during the upcoming weeks, and we will need your help in making the case for our priorities. 

For now, please know we’ll continue fighting every day to ensure our hospitals and health systems have the resources they need to care for patients, comfort families, save lives and protect communities.