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.
Budget reconciliation is an optional process under the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 that allows for expedited consideration of certain fiscal legislation that makes changes to mandatory spending, revenues and/or the debt limit.
This year, House and Senate Republicans are expected to use the budget reconciliation process to pass key agenda items on taxes, energy and border security, and they may look to health measures to pay for this legislation.
Today, the House Committee on Appropriations released the legislative text for a continuing resolution (CR) to fund the government through Nov. 21, 2025.
The AHA Sept. 15 expressed support for the Ensuring Access to Essential Providers Act, legislation that would require Medicare Advantage plans to cover services provided by certain essential community providers, including different types of hospitals that the plans must negotiate with to include in…
Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., has withdrawn his amendment to the Senate’s budget reconciliation bill. This withdrawal comes after a vigorous advocacy campaign by the AHA, with the great assistance of our members, to urge senators to vote no on the amendment.
The CMS Sept. 9 issued preliminary guidance implementing section 71116 of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA).
The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health Sept. 10 advanced the Title VIII Nursing Workforce Reauthorization Act (H.R. 3593), AHA-supported legislation that reauthorizes funding for Title VIII nursing workforce development programs. The bill will next be considered by the full committee.
The House Appropriations Committee Sept. 9 advanced the fiscal year 2026 appropriations bill for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and related agencies by a 35-28 vote.
The AHA Sept. 4 expressed support for the Hospitals As Naloxone Distribution Sites Act (H.R. 5120), legislation that would require Medicare and Medicaid to cover costs when hospitals provide naloxone to patients at risk of an overdose at no cost to patients.
The Senate Appropriations Committee July 31 advanced the fiscal year 2026 appropriations bill for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and other agencies by a bipartisan 26-3 vote. The bill provides approximately $197 billion in discretionary funding.