Letters

Throughout the year, the AHA comments on a vast number of proposed and interim final rules put forth by the federal regulatory agencies. In addition, AHA communicates with federal legislators to convey the hospital field's position on potential legislative changes that would impact patients and patient care. Below are the most recent letters from the AHA to these bodies.

Latest

AHA joined physician and other groups urging CMS to take steps to ensure COVID-19 does not derail the Alternative Payment Model and value movement. Specifically, the groups urged CMS to “allow flexibility with existing deadlines and requirements and take steps to ensure clinicians are not inappropriately penalized for the extreme costs of handling the pandemic so that they can continue to focus their energy on patient care.
AHA urges Congress to quickly pass “critically needed” direct financial assistance for hospitals and health systems to combat the pandemic, including assistance for hospitals investing in infrastructure, equipment and supplies, and a full payroll tax credit or other mechanism to offset uncompensated care, bad debt and charity care costs for treating coronavirus patients.
AHA asks the Secretary of Health and Human Services to consider additional actions to temporarily suspend certain requirements in order for health care providers to better respond to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
As Congress considers developing an economic stimulus package, the AHA, American Medical Association and American Nurses Association urge congressional leaders to include at least $1 billion to ensure that hospitals, health systems, physicians and nurses are viable and “directly supported” for preparedness and response. The organizations also urge that supplemental funding not be offset by cutting other health programs,
America’s hospitals deeply appreciate Congress’s swift and effective efforts to combat the COVID-19 crisis. Your recent bipartisan action provides much needed assistance for patients and hospitals, especially our workforce on the front lines of this pandemic, and reassures all Americans of Congress’s unwavering commitment to take the actions needed to ensure their health and safety.
AHA, AAMC, CHA and FAH letter to assure the Surgeon General and the nation’s leadership that hospitals across the country are actively preparing, planning, and executing our emergency plans to stop the threat of COVID-19, and to provide the medical care that the American people will expect and need during this national emergency.
The American Hospital Association (AHA), the American Nurses Association(ANA) and the American Medical Association (AMA) asks the President to declare the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak a disaster or emergency under the Stafford Act or the National Emergencies Act.
AHA asks the President to declare the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak a disaster or emergency under the Stafford Act or the National Emergencies Act. This step is necessary to allow the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar the authority to take critical actions, such as providing 1135 waivers, to ensure that health care services and sufficient health care items are available to respond to the COVID-19 outbreak.
The AHA submitted its comments to the Office of Management and Budget regarding the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) plans to collect pricing data on Hospital Survey for Specified Covered Outpatient Drugs (SCODs) from all hospitals that participate in the 340B Drug Pricing Program.
AHA expresses concern with the lawsuit brought by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Attorney General of Pennsylvania to challenge the