Maximize August’s impact by inviting legislators to witness the invaluable work of healthcare professionals at your hospital. Advocate for supporting the healthcare workforce and opposing cuts to Medicare and Medicaid payments. Address the potential consequences of site-neutral legislation on patient access to healthcare services, especially in underserved communities. Utilize resources from the AHA to optimize your meetings with lawmakers and make a compelling case for protecting access to care. Act now to ensure our collective voice is heard and produces positive outcomes.
Our esteemed senators and representatives will begin their August work period next week. They will travel back to their home states and districts to meet with voters and deal with the most urgent issues at hand.
As responsible citizens, it is incumbent upon us to prioritize the support for our healthcare workforce and advocate against any reductions in payments for patient services provided to Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries. To accomplish this, we have a golden opportunity to host our legislators at our hospitals and show them firsthand the remarkable dedication of our caregivers and the challenges we encounter daily.
By inviting lawmakers and their staff to witness the exceptional work carried out by our healthcare professionals, we can underscore the vital role our hospitals play as cornerstones of the community. It goes beyond providing high-quality clinical care; our hospitals also extend financial assistance to those in need, offer aid in housing, ensure access to nutritious food, support educational initiatives, arrange health screenings and medical transportation, and conduct vaccination clinics, among other programs that enhance the overall well-being of the community.
Lawmakers must remain well-informed about these endeavors, especially as the House and Senate are contemplating so-called site-neutral legislation that would further reduce Medicare funding for patient services provided by hospitals.
Notably, three House committees — Energy and Commerce, Education and the Workforce, and Ways and Means — have already passed legislation eliminating payment differences for drug administration services, overlooking the fact that hospital outpatient departments cater to all individuals, maintain emergency stand-by services, handle more complex cases, and adhere to stricter regulatory requirements compared to other care facilities. This comes on top of the existing issue where Medicare reimbursement for these services is already below the actual cost of delivering them to patients.
In addition, the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions is considering legislation that would decrease hospital reimbursements through site-neutral payment policies in the commercial sector, aiming to ban the use of facility fees and dictate reimbursement rates between payers and hospitals.
As we anticipate the House and Senate’s return to Washington in September and their potential continued push for site-neutral legislation, the pivotal nature of meeting with our lawmakers in August becomes evident. We must make our voices heard, emphasizing that site-neutral proposals would inevitably reduce patient access to vital healthcare services, particularly in rural and underserved communities.
To assist you in maximizing the impact of your meeting with legislators or their staff, the AHA has compiled valuable guidance and resources in a recent Action Alert. These include talking points on protecting access to care for patients and communities, tips for effective meetings with lawmakers, and best practices for successful advocacy. Stay tuned for further resources in an upcoming Action Alert.
Let us seize this moment to secure a spot on your senators and representatives’ calendars for the next month and ensure they fully comprehend what’s at stake. When we unite and speak with one resounding voice, our lawmakers take note, and tangible results follow. Together, let’s make that happen once more.
