AHA staff participated this afternoon in a Rural Health Summit convened by Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar and Health Resources and Services Administration Administrator George Sigounas to receive stakeholder input on addressing rural health challenges such as the opioid epidemic, access to care, telehealth, workforce development and rural health system transformation. HHS Deputy Secretary Eric Hargan and Chief of Staff Peter Urbanowicz also appeared at the event, which was moderated by Sigounas. In remarks at the summit, AHA discussed its Task Force on Ensuring Access in Vulnerable Communities report on nine innovative strategies for communities to consider based on their unique needs, support structures and preferences, including the emergency medical center model. The association also emphasized the importance of the 340B drug savings program and models to address the social determinants of health, which it said should include relief from fraud and abuse laws preventing hospitals from providing financial or in-kind assistance to patients that promote better overall health.
 

Related News Articles

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…
Headline
Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., July 15 introduced legislation that would repeal some of the Medicaid funding reductions included in the recently enacted One Big…
Headline
The Rural Hospital Excellence in Innovation Award honors rural hospitals that are leading the way in innovative, sustainable and community-centered care. If…
Headline
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services June 13 announced it approved state plan amendments to expand Medicaid access to care for tribal communities…
Headline
The AHA June 16 released a fact sheet with analysis on the impact to rural patients and hospitals from proposed Medicaid cuts by Congress. The analysis found…