Newsroom
America’s Essential Hospitals welcomes media inquiries about the association, its members, and policymaking that affects health care for vulnerable people. We can provide a national perspective on Medicaid and Medicare, the nation’s health care safety net, hospital quality improvement, research on care for the underserved, health care disparities, reform, and other topics.
Our staff experts are ready and able to answer your questions. We also can work with you to arrange interviews with leaders at our member hospitals and health systems. Let us help give your report a human face and local perspective.
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Media Contact
Carl Graziano
Senior Director of Communications
media@essentialhospitals.org
202.585.0102
Statement on FY 2024 Inpatient Prospective Payment System Final Rule
Aug. 1, 2023 ||The final rule for the fiscal year 2024 Inpatient Prospective Payment System will undermine the nation’s essential hospitals and safety net care for low-income and marginalized patients with its harmful policies on disproportionate share hospital funding.
view more »Statement on Proposed Remedy for Unlawful Cuts to 340B Hospitals
July 7, 2023 ||We are pleased the administration proposes lump-sum reimbursements to hospitals in the 340B Drug Pricing Program to remedy years of unlawful cuts to Medicare outpatient drug payments.
view more »America’s Essential Hospitals Announces New Board Leadership
June 29, 2023 ||America’s Essential Hospitals and its research, education, and leadership development arm, Essential Hospitals Institute, today announced new board chairs and members, who will begin their roles guiding the organizations’ work July 1.
view more »Awards Honor Essential Hospitals’ Work to Improve Quality, Population Health
June 15, 2023 ||America’s Essential Hospitals recognized four member hospitals for outstanding work to improve health care quality and population health.
view more »Essential Hospitals Collaborate to Reduce Social Barriers to Opioid Use Disorder Treatment
May 25, 2023 ||The project, supported by a grant from CVS Health Foundation, will continue through March 2024 and fits within a framework of association initiatives to combat structural racism and promote equity.
view more »America’s Essential Hospitals Introduces 2023–2024 Fellows Class
May 17, 2023 ||The Fellows Program, established in 1987, provides strategic leadership and advocacy training to help member hospitals develop and inspire the next generation of essential hospital leaders.
view more »America’s Essential Hospitals Joins National Hospital Groups to Urge Court to Preserve ACA Preventive Services Requirement Pending Appeal
May 5, 2023 ||We joined other national hospital groups to urge the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit to keep in place pending appeal an Affordable Care Act requirement that most health plans cover certain preventive services without cost sharing.
view more »Preserve Health Care Coverage for All People
April 21, 2023 ||As Congress and the administration work to protect the nation’s fiscal health and the well-being of its people, we call on policymakers to preserve and strengthen access to health care for low-income and marginalized populations.
view more »Essential Hospitals Praise Bill to Stop Damaging Medicaid DSH Cuts
April 19, 2023 ||We thank House lawmakers for their bipartisan leadership to protect patients, communities, and our nation’s safety net with legislation, the Supporting Safety Net Hospitals Act, that would avert disastrous cuts to essential hospitals.
view more »Essential Hospitals Applaud Medicaid, ACA Coverage for DACA Recipients
April 13, 2023 ||The administration’s decision to expand Medicaid and Affordable Care Act coverage to Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients marks an important step toward ensuring this marginalized group has access to vital health care services.
view more »Statement on FY 2024 Inpatient Prospective Payment System Proposed Rule
April 10, 2023 ||Essential hospitals appreciate the proposed rule’s provisions on equity and defining safety net hospitals but are concerned about a proposed $200 million reduction to Medicare disproportionate share hospital payments and a lackluster base payment rate increase.
view more »Joint Statement on PhRMA-Led Proposal to Restrict 340B
March 20, 2023 ||Hospital and pharmacist advocates for safety net health care and affordable prescription drugs are united in their firm opposition to a misguided effort by the drug industry and some community health centers that would restrict access to the 340B Drug Pricing Program.
view more »MedPAC Proposal Would Disadvantage Safety Net Providers, Patients
March 15, 2023 ||The commission’s Medicare safety net index methodology fails to account for all the nation’s safety net hospitals by overlooking uncompensated care and care provided to non-Medicare, low-income patients — especially Medicaid beneficiaries.
view more »America’s Essential Hospitals Introduces 2023 Essential Women’s Leadership Academy Class
Feb. 1, 2023 ||America’s Essential Hospitals today welcomed its fourth and largest class to a novel program that aims to decrease gender disparities in hospital leadership by building on the knowledge and skills of rising women executives.
view more »Statement on Appeals Court 340B Contract Pharmacy Ruling
Jan. 30, 2023 ||The decision by the Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit allows drug companies to continue their unconscionable and harmful restrictions on 340B discounts for drugs dispensed through contract pharmacies and jeopardizes access to lifesaving medications for disadvantaged patients.
view more »Toolkit to Help Essential Hospitals Build Diverse Workforce
Jan. 26, 2023 ||The project, funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, dovetails with work at America’s Essential Hospitals to combat structural racism. It also will contribute to the association’s response to the ongoing hospital workforce crisis.
view more »Statement on District Court Ruling on Repayments to 340B Hospitals
Jan. 10, 2023 ||We are disappointed the district court gave the Department of Health and Human Services discretion in how to remediate the department’s unlawful payment cuts for 340B hospitals.
view more »Statement on Omnibus Agreement
Dec. 20, 2022 ||We thank congressional negotiators for supporting essential hospitals and their communities by agreeing to shore up the health care workforce, expand access to mental health and substance use disorder services, and extend flexibility for alternative care settings.
view more »Six Essential Hospitals to Collaborate on Opioid Use Disorder Treatment Project
Nov. 16, 2022 ||The project will support a learning collaborative of essential hospitals seeking to increase access to office-based addiction treatment (OBAT).
view more »Report: Modest Investments by Hospitals Can Go Far to Combat Climate Change
Oct. 21, 2022 ||Even small investments by hospitals in climate resiliency and climate change mitigation can yield meaningful results and pave the way for further work.
view more »New Data Underscore Essential Hospitals’ Ongoing Resource Challenges, Unique Role
Sept. 26, 2022 ||The new data on essential hospitals comes in the association’s annual snapshot of its members, Essential Data: Our Hospitals, Our Patients.
view more »Award-Winning Initiatives to Advance Hospital Care Featured in New Guide
Sept. 22, 2022 ||A dozen award-winning hospital programs to improve quality, population health, and combat COVID-19 are featured in a new illustrated guide from America’s Essential Hospitals.
view more »Essential Hospitals Praise Coverage under New Law, Urge More Funding Relief
Aug. 16, 2022 ||The Inflation Reduction Act preserves access to affordable health care coverage and takes historic steps to fight climate change but it falls short of providing the support essential hospitals need as front-line providers during public health crises.
view more »Statement on Senate Passage of Inflation Reduction Act
Aug. 7, 2022 ||By extending ACA subsidies, the legislation would safeguard access to care for millions of individuals and families — a critically important outcome, given the ongoing threat of COVID-19 and the emergence of monkeypox.
view more »Statement on CY 2023 OPPS Proposed Rule
July 15, 2022 ||CMS’ intention to fully restore payments for 340B-acquired drugs takes an important step toward reversing the damage caused by years of cuts the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously found unlawful.
view more »America’s Essential Hospitals Introduces 2022–2023 Fellows Class
July 11, 2022 ||Twenty-nine rising leaders from 18 essential hospitals will explore population health, diversity and inclusion, policymaking, and other issues central to care for low-income and marginalized patients.
view more »America’s Essential Hospitals Welcomes New Board Leadership
July 1, 2022 ||New leaders for America’s Essential Hospitals and its research, education, and dissemination arm, Essential Hospitals Institute, today begin their roles.
view more »Statement on Bipartisan Gun Safety Legislation
June 24, 2022 ||The bill, which would improve gun safety and expand access to mental health services, offers hope to health care workers, who face increased personal risk as caregivers often on the front lines of workplace violence.
view more »Statement on Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Decision
June 24, 2022 ||We are concerned about how today’s U.S. Supreme Court decision might affect access to care and maternal health, especially among low-income and marginalized people, and the ability of providers to deliver care without fear of possible criminalization.
view more »Awards Honor Exceptional Care, Innovation at Essential Hospitals
June 23, 2022 ||America’s Essential Hospitals awarded Gage Awards to seven hospitals for quality improvement projects, population health initiatives, and COVID-19 response.
view more »Joint Statement on 340B Supreme Court Decision
June 15, 2022 ||We are pleased that the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously agreed with us that the Department of Health and Human Services’ outpatient payment cuts to hospitals in the 340B Drug Pricing Program were unlawful.
view more »Statement on Uvalde, Texas, School Shootings
May 25, 2022 ||We mourn the terrible loss of life in Uvalde, Texas, and join others in the health care community in an urgent call for action to improve gun safety and reduce gun violence as necessary measures to protect public health.
view more »Essential Hospitals Welcome Equity Focus in IPPS Proposed Rule
April 18, 2022 ||We welcome the focus on improving equity in today’s FY 2023 IPPS proposed rule, including in proposals related to climate change and maternal health.
view more »Essential Hospitals Applaud Selection of New OPA Director
Feb. 28, 2022 ||Egwim brings extensive experience to his new role, and we look forward to working with him to protect the access to affordable drugs the 340B Drug Pricing Program creates for low-income patients.
view more »Essential Hospitals Need Targeted, Ongoing COVID-19 Relief
Jan. 26, 2022 ||Essential hospitals continue to confront extreme labor costs and staff shortages and need targeted relief from remaining fund dollars and new sources of support.
view more »America’s Essential Hospitals Fills Top Legislative Position with Washington Veteran
Jan. 6, 2022 ||America’s Essential Hospitals has selected Jason Pray, a health care policy professional with more than 24 years of experience in Washington, D.C., as its next vice president of legislative affairs.
view more »Essential Hospitals Receive $847,000 CVS Health Investment to Reduce Black Pregnant or Birthing Patient Morbidity and Mortality
Dec. 7, 2021 ||A new learning collaborative, funded by CVS Health Foundation, and guided by Essential Hospitals Institute will support ongoing work at 12 essential hospitals to reduce morbidity and mortality among Black pregnant and birthing patients and foster sharing of results and best practices.
view more »Three Essential Hospitals to Receive Grants to Reduce CVD Care Disparities
Dec. 2, 2021 ||Over 12 months, the project will provide technical support to the grant recipients and collect data on how their innovations affect cardiovascular disease patients in their communities.
view more »Statement on House Passage of the Build Back Better Act
Nov. 19, 2021 ||While essential hospitals support the bill’s goals to expand health care coverage and strengthen the health care workforce, they cannot accept the damaging cuts it would make to funding for hospitals that care for low-income patients and underserved communities.
view more »Statement on Vaccination Requirements for Health Care Workers
Nov. 4, 2021 ||We support the Biden administration’s vaccination goals, including for health care workers as they lead our nation’s response to COVID-19. The interim final rule from CMS aligns with our commitment to vaccination as the best way to protect patients and keep caregivers safe.
view more »2022 OPPS Final Rule Perpetuates Threats to Nation’s Safety Net
Nov. 2, 2021 ||By maintaining harmful cuts to outpatient drug payments for hospitals in the 340B Drug Pricing Program and for services at hospital outpatient clinics, the 2022 Outpatient Prospective Payment System final rule jeopardizes safety net care.
view more »Essential Hospitals Applaud Administration Support of 340B Program
Sept. 9, 2021 ||We thank the Biden Administration for strongly supporting the 340B Drug Pricing Program in its plan to tackle high drug prices, and we urge policymakers to dismantle barriers to affordable drugs that now threaten the program.
view more »America’s Essential Hospitals to Mandate COVID-19 Vaccine for Employees
Sept. 2, 2021 ||America’s Essential Hospitals will require all employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment.
view more »Essential Hospitals Commit to Ensuring COVID-19 Vaccine Equity and Access
Sept. 1, 2021 ||Health systems representing 177 member hospitals have pledged to fight health care disparities by ensuring equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines.
view more »New Guide Shares Award-Winning Strategies to Improve Hospital Care
Aug. 18, 2021 ||The illustrated guide details quality, population health, and COVID-19 projects recognized for excellence and innovation in the annual Gage Awards program.
view more »Statement on Death of UF Health CEO and Essential Hospitals Champion
July 25, 2021 ||Leon Haley Jr., MD, MHSA, was a tireless advocate for patients and essential hospitals, and he contributed in countless ways to the mission and work of America’s Essential Hospitals and Essential Hospitals Institute.
view more »America’s Essential Hospitals Urges Members to Require Employee Vaccination
July 21, 2021 ||With the rapid spread of the COVID-19 Delta variant, spiking infection rates, and persistent gaps in vaccination that put millions of people at risk nationally, we urge our member hospitals to require vaccination for their employees, for their protection and the safety of patients.
view more »Statement on 2022 Medicare OPPS Proposed Rule
July 19, 2021 ||America’s Essential Hospitals expresses its disappointment with the administration’s decisions to stand by a bad policy on Part B drug payments and to continue damaging cuts to outpatient care.
view more »America’s Essential Hospitals, Voyce Announce Partnership to Expand Video Access to On-Demand, Real-Time Language Interpreters
July 7, 2021 ||The partnership with Voyce aligns with America’s Essential Hospitals’ long-standing and ongoing focus on social determinants of health, such as language and health literacy.
view more »America’s Essential Hospitals Welcomes New Board Leadership
July 1, 2021 ||New leaders for America’s Essential Hospitals and its research, education, and dissemination arm, Essential Hospitals Institute, today began their roles.
view more »Project to Help Essential Hospitals Reduce Disparities in Cardiovascular Disease
June 30, 2021 ||The project, supported by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation, will fund up to three member hospitals to implement strategies to reduce cardiovascular disease disparities, provide technical assistance to grantees, and disseminate findings and lessons learned to hospital systems nationwide.
view more »Awards Recognize Hospitals for Improving Quality, Population Health, COVID-19 Care
June 24, 2021 ||America’s Essential Hospitals, whose more than 300 members care for low-income and other marginalized people, today honored 13 member hospitals for outstanding work to improve health care quality and population health and to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.
view more »Supreme Court Ruling a Victory for Patients and Access to Care
June 17, 2021 ||Today’s U.S. Supreme Court decision on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is a decisive victory for patients, hospitals, and all who believe no one, especially people of limited financial means, should go without access to affordable health care.
view more »Statement on Court Ruling in Challenge of 340B Requirements
June 16, 2021 ||We are disappointed by the U.S. District Court opinion denying the federal government’s motion to dismiss AstraZeneca’s challenge of 340B requirements.
view more »Statement on President Biden’s Fiscal Year 2022 Budget Proposal
May 28, 2021 ||We welcome the administration’s desire to focus on social determinants of health, such as housing and education, and reduce health disparities. But we are disappointed to see the budget include policies from the previous administration that would undermine the value of the 340B Drug Pricing Program.
view more »Essential Hospitals Applaud Brooks-LaSure Confirmation
May 25, 2021 ||Brooks-LaSure takes the reins at CMS at a critical juncture for our nation, as COVID-19 and its lingering economic effects make access to health care coverage more important than ever. Her knowledge of, and experience with, Medicaid and Medicare make her well suited to meet these challenges.
view more »Essential Hospitals Praise HHS Action to Protect 340B for Underserved Communities
May 17, 2021 ||In letters to manufacturers, HHS makes a clear and forceful statement about the manufacturers’ illegal limits on access to 340B Drug Pricing Program discounts.
view more »New Data Show Essential Hospitals’ Limited Resources as Pandemic Began
May 17, 2021 ||The new data on essential hospitals comes in the association’s annual snapshot of its members, Essential Data: Our Hospitals, Our Patients.
view more »Statement on President’s Address to Joint Session of Congress
April 28, 2021 ||We applaud the president’s focus on equity and building a strong social safety net and his success combating COVID-19, and we urge the administration to ensure ongoing and sustainable support for Medicaid and hospitals’ infrastructure needs.
view more »Statement on FY 2022 Inpatient Prospective Payment System Proposed Rule
April 27, 2021 ||The association is pleased to see policy proposals to improve health care equity in graduate medical education and value-based payment programs and to withdraw burdensome Medicare Advantage data collection requirements.
view more »Statement on Senate Resolution to Declare Racism a Public Health Crisis
April 23, 2021 ||We applaud Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and his colleagues for recognizing the need to confront the influence of racism on the social determinants of health. Their resolution is part of the solution to achieving greater health equity.
view more »Statement on Verdict in Trial for Murder of George Floyd
April 20, 2021 ||As we reflect on today’s events, we look ahead to the opportunity to come together as a nation, acknowledge the structural and systemic challenges we still face, and continue the hard but necessary work of building a more just and equitable society.
view more »Essential Hospitals Thank Congress for Voting to Stop Sequester Cut
April 13, 2021 ||Extending the Medicare sequester moratorium through the end of this year provides much-needed relief for essential hospitals, which continue to face heavy financial pressure from their front-line response to COVID-19, the association says.
view more »Essential Hospitals Thank Administration for Actions on Racism, Health Equity
April 9, 2021 ||America’s Essential Hospitals thanks the Biden administration and CDC Director Rochelle Walensky for taking a strong stand on racism as a serious public health threat and for seeking to direct more investments at social determinants of health and mitigating health care disparities.
view more »Essential Hospitals Thank House for Vote on Sequester, PAYGO Relief
March 19, 2021 ||Extending the Medicare sequester moratorium through year’s end and waiving the PAYGO cut later this year would provide needed relief for hospitals as they continue to face financial and resource constraints due to COVID-19.
view more »Essential Hospitals Applaud Becerra Confirmation
March 18, 2021 ||Xavier Becerra brings to the Department of Health and Human Services a strong record of accomplishments as a champion for health care coverage and equity. We welcome his experience and commitment to health care access as we continue the fight against COVID-19.
view more »Essential Hospitals Praise Withdrawal of Public Charge Rule
March 11, 2021 ||With the roll back of the rule, we must rebuild trust in immigrant communities through education and outreach to overcome fears that access to needed health care services could come at the cost of remaining in this country.
view more »Essential Hospitals Welcome COVID-19 Relief, Stress Ongoing Needs
March 10, 2021 ||Our members thank Congress and the Biden administration for making timely investments in the American Rescue Plan Act. As the fight against COVID-19 continues, we will continue to work with Congress to secure further support for essential hospitals in future legislation.
view more »Essential Hospitals Support Brooks-LaSure for CMS Administrator
Feb. 20, 2021 ||The nominee’s deep policy expertise in Medicaid and Medicare and her role in advancing coverage under the Affordable Care Act would bring valuable skills and leadership to CMS.
view more »Essential Hospitals Celebrate 40 Years as Champions of Safety Net
Feb. 16, 2021 ||The association today kicked off a celebration of its founding in 1981 as the National Association of Public Hospitals. It will mark the anniversary online with storytelling by people prominent in the association’s history, an interactive timeline, a video tribute, and other activities this year.
view more »Hospital Association Launches Second Phase of Climate Resiliency Work
Feb. 11, 2021 ||The work, part of a Kresge Foundation–supported project, follows a 2019 climate resiliency report from Essential Hospitals Institute, the association’s research entity.
view more »Essential Hospitals Praise Public Charge Review, Seek Reversal
Feb. 3, 2021 ||We thank President Joe Biden for his compassionate decision to ensure legal immigrants can participate in all the opportunities our country offers, including access to affordable health care for themselves and their families.
view more »Statement on President Biden’s COVID-19 National Strategy, Executive Orders
Jan. 21, 2021 ||America’s Essential Hospitals applauds President Biden’s swift pledge to fight the COVID-19 pandemic through a national strategy and executive orders.
view more »Statement on Political Giving Following Attack on U.S. Capitol
Jan. 15, 2021 ||Due to the events of Jan. 6 and discord surrounding the November elections, we have suspended contributions from our Essential Hospitals Political Action Committee to members of Congress who voted against certifying the results of a free and fair election.
view more »Withdrawal of MFAR the Right Decision for the Safety Net
Jan. 15, 2021 ||We thank the administration for recognizing the need to better analyze the proposed regulation’s potential effects. We cannot afford unintended consequences that harm the safety net — especially now, as we continue to battle COVID-19.
view more »CEO Message on Events at U.S. Capitol Building
Jan. 7, 2021 ||While the assault on the U.S. Capitol this week shocks and saddens us, it also deepens our resolve to have a voice in the hard work ahead to heal our nation and restore democratic norms.
view more »Statement on HHS General Counsel 340B Opinion
Dec. 30, 2020 ||The General Counsel’s advisory opinion makes clear that drug companies have run afoul of the law that created the 340B Drug Pricing Program and undermined its benefits to the safety net by denying discounts to contract pharmacies.
view more »Essential Hospitals Urge Quick Action on COVID-19, Funding Bill
Dec. 21, 2020 ||The legislation would avert disastrous Medicaid disproportionate share hospital payment cuts, bring additional relief from the heavy financial pressures of COVID-19, and establish important consumer protections for patients.
view more »Hospitals and Pharmacists File Lawsuit Over Drug Companies’ Refusals of 340B Discounts
Dec. 11, 2020 ||The groups have sued the Department of Health and Human Services over its failure to enforce program requirements and halt drug company actions that undermine the 340B Drug Pricing Program.
view more »Essential Hospitals Thank Congress for Medicaid DSH Cut Relief
Dec. 11, 2020 ||This $4 billion cut—a third of all program funding—would destabilize hospitals and threaten access to care as the nation confronts a rapidly escalating health care crisis. We now must turn to solutions that protect hospitals and their communities for the long term.
view more »Statement on President-elect Biden’s Health Care Leadership Nominations
Dec. 7, 2020 ||America’s Essential Hospitals supports the nomination of Xavier Becerra as the next secretary of health and human services, and we applaud the incoming Biden administration for its other choices to lead key federal health care agencies and initiatives.
view more »Statement on OPPS, Physician Fee Schedule Final Rules
Dec. 2, 2020 ||The final rule takes critical resources away from hospitals and is especially harmful now as they strain under the heavy financial burden of COVID-19.
view more »Essential Hospitals Congratulate Biden, Harris for Historic Win
Nov. 7, 2020 ||America’s Essential Hospitals applauds the commitment of President-Elect Joe Biden and Vice President–Elect Kamala Harris to equity, social justice, and access to affordable, high-quality health care.
view more »Statement on House Passage of New HEROES Act
Oct. 1, 2020 ||Essential hospitals thank House leaders for recognizing in the legislation the ongoing needs of providers that form the backbone of the health care safety net and for taking additional steps to support their service to patients and communities.
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