Council hosts Pollack, Tavenner for health care policy discussion

The Nashville Health Care Council yesterday hosted a health care policy discussion with CEOs from the AHA and America’s Health Insurance Plans, where topics ranged from the uncertainty surrounding proposals to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act to the state of Medicaid and the proposal to transition its funding to block grants. “So much of this is yet to be defined,” AHA President and CEO Rick Pollack told the audience of Nashville health care leaders. “Our concern continues to be making sure patients have coverage. We support giving flexibility to the states, but our great concern is that block grants or per capita caps could be a vehicle that further constrains a program that is already severely underfunded.” The discussion with Pollack and AHIP President and CEO Marilyn Tavenner also touched on how the organizations are adapting to rapid changes in the field to meet the needs of their members. “We are redefining the ‘H’ in AHA, because the ‘H’ is more than the building,” Pollack said. “Care outside of the hospital, whether that is managing chronic conditions, telemedicine, hospitals at home or other care settings, are central to the continuum. Consumerism, convenience and accessibility are all top-of-mind for our members, and we continue to adapt to changes in the provider space.”