In the Sept. 14 letter to House and Senate leaders, members of America’s Essential Hospitals warned of the “far-reaching effects” of scheduled deep cuts to Medicaid disproportionate share hospital funding and said the cuts would “undermine America’s health care safety net.”

In its response to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, America's Essential Hospitals comments on policies for telehealth services, advanced diagnostic imaging, social determinants of health, and other Physician Fee Schedule proposals.

In a recent letter to House leaders, America's Essential Hospitals voiced its support of a legislative proposal that would avert $16 billion in cuts to Medicaid disproportionate share hospital funding but cautioned against other onerous policies, including for site-neutral payment.

Political posturing on appropriations has made a government shutdown next month increasingly likely. Congress also faces a Sept. 30 deadline for other key issues, including stopping an $8 billion cut to Medicaid DSH funding.

In its response to a House panel's request for feedback on a discussion draft on ways to address national drug shortages, America's Essential Hospitals said shortages disproportionately harm essential hospitals, and it refuted claims the 340B Drug Pricing Program contributes to the problem.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is exploring a new model to promote health equity, with the goal of enhancing access to patient-centered care for underserved groups and including them in value-based care systems.

HHS will host the Aug. 24 webinar to gather input from a variety of health care stakeholders on hospital preparedness before, during, and after emergencies.

With a federal government shutdown looming, Congress likely will be consumed with passing fiscal year 2024 appropriations or a continuing resolution for stopgap funding when lawmakers return to Washington, D.C., in September.

Congress must act by Sept. 30 to avert a government shutdown and stop an $8 billion cut to disproportionate share hospital payments. Deadlines also loom for a sweeping pandemic preparedness bill and opioid use disorder treatment services.

The Aug. 1 final rule includes numerous policy and payment changes, including a 3.1 percent increase to inpatient payment rates, changes to the Medicare disproportionate share hospital payment calculation, and revised graduate medical education policies.

In a letter organized with help from America's Essential Hospitals, a bipartisan group of lawmakers call on Senate leaders to avert a devastating, $8 billion cut to Medicaid disproportionate share hospital (DSH) funding on Oct. 1. The letter follows a similar communication to House leaders.

In its response to a bipartisan group of senators, America's Essential Hospitals urges lawmakers to resist drug industry attacks on the 340B Drug Pricing Program and to protect the program's benefits to essential hospitals and marginalized patients.

The Pandemic and All Hazards Preparedness Act is among programs that will expire at the end of the federal fiscal year, Sept. 30, without congressional action. Congress also must act to fund the federal government into fiscal year 2024.

A key House subcommittee marks up the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act as Democrats criticize the bill for falling short on measures to fix drug shortages. An appropriations bill that would fund the Department of Health and Human Services clears a House appropriations panel.

In its response to House Republican committee leaders, the association rebutted claims that the 340B Drug Pricing Program contributes to drug shortages and underscored the ways the program supports patient care.

CMS proposes to remedy five years of unlawful cuts to Medicare Part B reimbursement for separately payable drugs with lump-sum payments expected in late 2023 or early 2024.

Partisan disagreements remain regarding reauthorization of the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act; a mark up of the legislation by the House Committee on Energy and Commerce reportedly is scheduled for July 13.

Republicans and Democrats on the House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee differ on approaches to the opioid epidemic, including reauthorization of association-endorsed legislation, the SUPPORT Act.

Bipartisan legislation, endorsed by America's Essential Hospitals, would extend pandemic-era access to virtual care for Medicare patients. A bipartisan group of six Senate offices issued a request for information on the 340B Drug Pricing Program; the association will respond.

The House Committee on Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee will consider a bill to reauthorize the Children's Hospitals Graduate Medical Education program, which America's Essential Hospitals endorses to ease the workforce crisis.

After months of back and forth between Republican lawmakers and the White House, President Joe Biden signs legislation to suspend the debt ceiling through 2024. The bill does not include work requirements for Medicaid recipients, a condition Republicans had sought early in negotiations.

The House Committee on Energy and Commerce approved a measure to eliminate $16 billion of cuts to Medicaid disproportionate share hospital funding as part of a package that also includes measures for pricing transparency and site-neutral payments.

Language to avert an $8 billion cut to Medicaid disproportionate share hospital payments passed the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee by a 27-0 vote as part of the panel's consideration of 17 health-related bills.

America's Essential Hospitals calls on Senate leaders to reject a House proposal to impose work requirements for Medicaid as part of negotiations to raise the nation's debt limit, saying the plan would jeopardize access to care and harm communities.

House panels last week heard testimony on a variety of issues important to essential hospitals, including looming cuts to Medicaid disproportionate share hospital funding, workforce shortages and training, and the 340B Drug Pricing Program.

Responding to association advocacy, four House lawmakers introduced legislation to eliminate $16 billion in Medicaid disproportionate share hospital (DSH) cuts in fiscal years 2024 and 2025. In a statement, America's Essential Hospitals called on all House members to support the bill.

The Supporting Safety Net Hospitals Act would eliminate devastating cuts to Medicaid disproportionate share hospital funding in fiscal years 2024 and 2025.

The House Committee on Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee will hear testimony on legislation to address the nation's health care workforce shortage. Meanwhile, two House lawmakers circulate a sign-on letter to build support for a bill to bolster physician training.

The bipartisan PROTECT 340B Act would prohibit discriminatory practices by insurers and pharmacy benefit managers against 340B Drug Pricing Program providers and their contract pharmacies.

In the House and Senate, lawmakers discuss the need for 340B Drug Pricing Program reforms and how pharmacy benefit manager practices affect the program's value to marginalized patients.and communities.