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.

A bipartisan group of House members sent a letter to the House speaker and Democratic leader urging them to avert an $8 billion cut to Medicaid disproportionate share hospital payments on Oct. 1. America's Essential Hospitals helped build momentum for the letter signing campaign.

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 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.

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.

At two Senate hearings, Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra presented the Biden administration's health care budget. In a joint statement, America's Essential Hospitals and other organizations raised concerns about a new alliance between drug companies and community health centers.

America's Essential Hospitals has responded to a request for information (RFI) on health care workforce shortages by the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. The association also plans to respond to an RFI on reauthorizing the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act.

America's Essential Hospitals and other groups, in a letter to congressional leaders, urge lawmakers to avert an $8 billion cut Oct. 1 to Medicaid disproportionate share hospital funding. President Biden's proposed budget includes measures to protect Medicare.

Key health committees in the House and Senate issue requests for information — one on reauthorizing the Pandemic and All Hazards Preparedness Act and another to examine health care workforce shortages.

More than 70 Policy Assembly attendees visited congressional offices to share association priorities, including eliminating $16 billion in Medicaid DSH cuts over the next two fiscal years, protecting the 340B Drug Pricing Program, and establishing a federal designation for essential hospitals.

The association's 11-page letter to congressional leaders calls for action to avert Medicaid disproportionate share hospital cuts, support the health care workforce, and establish a federal designation for essential hospitals, among other policy priorities.

The president vowed to veto attempts to roll back Inflation Reduction Act measures to reduce prescription drug prices. He also voiced his plan to make permanent pandemic-related increases to Affordable Care Act premium subsidies.

The Senate announced rosters for the Finance and Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) committees, as well as for the Finance Committee's Subcommittee on Health Care. HELP Committee Chair Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) signaled his intention to act on prescription drug prices.

House leaders fill seats on committees and subcommittees with jurisdiction over health care issues of particular importance to essential hospitals and their patients.

House and Senate lawmakers returned to Capitol Hill this week to find regular legislative business overshadowed by a growing partisan debate about the nation's debt limit and spending on Medicare, Social Security, and other federal programs.

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) last week determined party representation ratios for the committees on Appropriations, Energy and Commerce, Financial Services, and Ways and Means.