The American Hospital Association (AHA) urged the majority and minority leaders of the House and Senate to act on key priorities before the end of the year in comments on November 12. AHA requested Congress continue providing relief from Medicaid Disproportionate Share Hospital Payment cuts and continue the Medicare-dependent Hospitals and Low-volume Adjustment programs set to expire on December 31.
The AHA also urged Congress to reject site-neutral payment proposals and pass the Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act. This legislation would decrease prior authorization procedures in the Medicare Advantage program.
Additionally, AHA requested that the hospital-at-home waiver be extended through 2029, scheduled physician reimbursement cuts mitigated, and the Safety from Violence for Healthcare Employees Act passed.
“Physicians have dealt with over two decades of conversion factor decrements, as well as significant staffing shortages and rising inflation in recent years. The scheduled 2.8 percent payment reduction in the 2025 Physician Fee Schedule would result in a significant risk to patients’ access to care,” AHA President and CEO Rick Pollack said in a statement.
"Hospitals and health systems are experiencing significant financial pressures that challenge their ability to provide 24/7 care for the patients and communities they serve," said AHA President and CEO Rick Pollack in a statement. "Increased expenses for drugs and supplies, inflation and the mounting burden due to certain commercial health insurer denial and delay practices continue to strain hospitals and health systems. At the same time, underpayments in reimbursements from Medicare and Medicaid do not keep pace with these mounting costs and exacerbate the problems hospitals are having."
