FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Statement attributable to:
Bruce Siegel, MD, MPH
President and CEO
America’s Essential Hospitals
We applaud Sens. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and their bipartisan Senate colleagues for their thoughtful and timely support of essential hospitals responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. We appreciate their leadership as front-line providers across the country work to fulfill their mission-driven, safety-net role through the current public health emergency and beyond.
Their letter urges the Department of Health and Human Services to dedicate a portion of the Provider Relief Fund to hospitals that care for many Medicaid and low-income patients. Essential hospitals, which operate on thin margins in the best of times and care for many disadvantaged and underserved populations hurt most by the virus, have yet to receive adequate financial relief.
We call on the administration to respond quickly to the senators’ letter, as well as a similar bipartisan letter sent by more than 90 members of the House of Representatives, by releasing targeted funding to essential hospitals.
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About America’s Essential Hospitals
America’s Essential Hospitals is the leading champion for hospitals and health systems dedicated to high-quality care for all, including the most vulnerable. We support our more than 300 members with advocacy, policy development, research, and education. Communities depend on essential hospitals to provide specialized, lifesaving services; train the health care workforce; advance public health and health equity; and coordinate care. Essential hospitals innovate and adapt to lead the way to more effective and efficient care. Learn more at essentialhospitals.org.
Contact:
Carl Graziano
cgraziano@essentialhospitals.org
202.585.0102
