Advocating for Essential Hospitals
For more than 40 years, we have advanced the mission of hospitals that provide safety net care by centering their needs in federal policymaking. We work to improve Medicaid and Medicare payments and other federal support for hospitals, protect the 340B Drug Pricing Program, combat structural inequities in safety net funding, and ensure policies on health care quality and value do not disadvantage under-resourced hospitals.
Position Papers
where we stand on key issues
Advancing Equity
America’s Essential Hospitals leads advocacy for improving health equity; reducing health disparities; combating structural racism; and countering the effects of homelessness, food insecurity, health illiteracy, and other social and economic drivers of poor health. We are committed to countering these barriers to health and are striving to transform care for underrepresented and marginalized people.
Health Policy Essentials Podcast
A podcast that explores hot topics for essential hospitals in health care policy, with a focus on safety net care for low-income and other marginalized people and communities. Each episode features commentary and analysis by legislative and regulatory experts inside and outside America’s Essential Hospitals.
Regulatory Comments
From America’s Essential Hospitals
Association Urges HRSA to Stop Sanofi 340B Rebate Scheme
Evan Schweikert | Dec. 3, 2024
Essential Hospitals Urge Congress to Halt Medicaid DSH Cuts
Staff | Nov. 20, 2024
Statement on New Senate Leadership
Staff | Nov. 14, 2024
Association Comments on 2026 Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters
Julie Kozminski | Nov. 13, 2024
Association Letter Highlights End-of-Year Priorities
Staff | Nov. 8, 2024
Medicaid State Directed Payments: Closing the Payment Equity Gap for Essential Hospitals
This brief examines how State Directed Payments relate to other types of Medicaid payments and illustrates how states are using this authority to begin closing the payment equity gap for essential hospitals.
Take Action
Join the fight to improve federal support for essential hospitals and patients, and stay current on state-level policy shifts. America’s Essential Hospitals provides actionable alerts and updates on policy and advocacy issues for our members.
Eye on State Policy
Staying informed on state health care policies can help stakeholders assess trends and areas of innovation across the United States. America’s Essential Hospitals tracks state health policy topics and trends relevant to essential hospitals and the people and communities they serve.
Our Advocacy Achievements
America’s Essential Hospitals has a rich history and long record of accomplishments. Since its inception, America’s Essential Hospitals has been recognized for its advocacy and expertise on issues related to care for historically marginalized people and communities.
The most important thing that America’s Essential Hospitals brings to our health system and, indeed, the nation, is its advocacy and its focus on the mission that we all have in serving our communities. Without that advocacy and the understanding of our elected officials, we wouldn’t receive the resources that we need to add value to the health of our communities.
Steve purves | President and CEO, Valleywise Health