Molly Smith - Group Vice President for Public Policy, American Hospital Association
Articles
Setting the Record Straight
A Weak Attempt at Pitting Hospitals Against Each Other: Arnold Ventures Uses Third Way to Advance Its Latest Advocacy Strategy
By Molly Smith - Group Vice President for Public Policy, American Hospital Association, Bharath Krishnamurthy, Director, Health Analytics & Policy
For unclear reasons, Arnold Ventures, a private LLC backed by hedge fund billionaires John and Laura Arnold, has repeatedly targeted hospitals as part of a widespread misinformation campaign.
Setting the Record Straight, Cost Management
Setting the Record Straight: Latest Arnold Ventures-funded Study Draws Many Faulty Conclusions, Including Incomprehensibly Linking Hospital Prices to Increased Suicides
Last week, several academics released a working paper saying hospital prices lead to employment losses outside the health sector, among other faulty conclusions.
Setting the Record Straight, Health Insurance
High-deductible and skinny health insurance plans drive medical debt
Understand the dangers of high-deductible health plans and how to mitigate the risk of medical debt.
Price Transparency, Cost Management, Setting the Record Straight
New CMS Report Shows Hospitals and Health Systems Are Working to Implement Price Transparency Policies and Help Patients Understand Costs
By Molly Smith - Group Vice President for Public Policy, American Hospital Association, Aaron Wesolowski - AHA Vice President of Policy, Research, Analytics and Strategy, Terrence Cunningham
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released the results of its assessment of hospital compliance. Importantly, CMS is the official arbiter of compliance with the transparency rules.
Commercial Insurer Accountability, Setting the Record Straight
CBO’s Proposals Do Not Address The Real Causes of Rising Commercial Health Insurance Premiums
By Molly Smith - Group Vice President for Public Policy, American Hospital Association, Benjamin Finder
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) recently released a paper that includes several policy options ostensibly intended to reduce health insurance premiums.
Leadership, Surprise Medical Billing
Blog: Why hospitals and physicians are filing suit over No Surprises Act final rules that jeopardize patient access to care
By Melinda Hatton, Molly Smith - Group Vice President for Public Policy, American Hospital Association
America’s hospitals and physicians filed a lawsuit in an effort to protect patients’ access to critical health care services. At issue is the implementation of the No Surprises Act, legislation that both the AHA and AMA worked vigorously to get enacted in order to protect patients from surprise medical bills for out-of-network care.
Surprise Medical Billing, Legislation and Legislative Advocacy
On surprise billing, look at the facts and not misleading ads
Hospitals and health systems have long advocated for protecting patients from certain unexpected medical bills while preserving their access to care.
Health Insurance, Novel Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19), Enroll in Health Insurance
Blog: Join us in helping the uninsured obtain coverage
The AHA recently joined a non-partisan coalition, Get Covered 2021, to promote tools to stop the spread of COVID-19 and expand health coverage to millions of uninsured Americans. Molly Smith, AHA vice president of coverage and state issues forum, explains how hospitals and health systems can get involved in this meaningful effort to improve the overall health of individuals and communities.
340B Drug Pricing Program, Access & Health Coverage, Access to Care in Vulnerable Communities, Drug Prices
Drug Industry-Funded Consultant Swings and Misses
Another week, another drug industry-funded consultant attempting to divert attention away from the high and rising costs of prescription drugs by attacking the 340B drug pricing program.
Financial Oversight, Care Delivery, Financial Management, Strategic Planning
Total cost of care: Key considerations
By Paul Keckley, Molly Smith - Group Vice President for Public Policy, American Hospital Association
Hospitals and health systems are continuously striving to reduce costs and improve the efficiency of care. It is useful to consider the impact of measuring the “total cost of care” on hospitals and health systems, as well as contemplate what steps health care leaders need to take.