Legislation and Legislative Advocacy

The American Hospital Association (AHA) shares resources on health care legislation being considered by the U.S. House and Senate and legislative advocacy opportunities for hospitals and health systems.

As James Madison wrote in the First Amendment of our Bill of Rights, we have the right to “petition the government for a redress of grievances.” We also have an important right that many in other countries don’t – the right to vote. These two rights go hand in hand as a foundation of our democracy.
Expanding access to telehealth services to provide much more patient-centered, convenient care. Creating additional health care workforce capacity and avoiding workforce shortages. Removing barriers for patients and communities to access needed care.
On behalf of our nearly 5,000 member hospitals, health systems and other health care organizations, our clinical partners – including more than 270,000 affiliated physicians, 2 million nurses and other caregivers – and the 43,000 health care leaders who belong to our professional membership groups…
The AHA urges leaders of the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies to support a number of issues important to hospitals and health systems as they consider funding for health care programs for fiscal year 2021.
The AHA and other national hospital organizations today asked congressional leaders to include in the next COVID-19 legislative package provisions to shield from unwarranted liability the health care facilities and providers treating patients during the pandemic.
The The American Hospital Association expresses support for the Rural Community Hospital Demonstration Extension Act of 2020. 
As you continue discussions with other congressional leaders and the Administration on the next COVID-19 package, we urge you to continue to prioritize additional support to ensure hospitals and health systems have what they need to protect their patients, communities and caregivers.
The House of Representatives yesterday released the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (H.R. 6201) in response to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. The House could vote on the package as soon as today.
The AHA and American Nurses Association urge Congress to “swiftly provide” $1 billion in initial supplemental emergency funding to support the “urgent preparedness and response needs of hospitals, health systems, physicians and nurses on the front lines” of the novel coronavirus outbreak.