AHA Statement on Supreme Court Decision in Azar v. Allina Health Services

Melinda Hatton
General Counsel
American Hospital Association

June 3, 2019

America’s hospitals and health systems applaud today’s Supreme Court decision finding that the Department of Health and Human Services violated the Medicare Act when it changed Medicare's reimbursement formula for disproportionate share hospitals without providing notice and opportunity to comment. By evading the notice-and-comment process, HHS failed to consider the real-world impact of its changes, leading to policies that may adversely affect patients as well as providers. As we stated in our amicus brief, more public participation in policymaking, including by hospitals and health systems, leads to better-thought-out policies with a deeper understanding of their direct impact on health care providers and those they serve.

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Contact:        

Colin Milligan, (202) 638-5491

Marie Johnson, (202) 626-2351