America’s Essential Hospitals is working with congressional offices to circulate a dear colleague letter urging leadership in the House of Representatives to avert the $8 billion cut to Medicaid disproportionate share hospital (DSH) funding scheduled for Jan. 1.
Reps. Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas), Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y.), Gus Bilirakis (R-Fla.), and Diana DeGette (D-Col.) are spearheading the letter, which has 136 signatures — from 90 Democrats and 46 Republicans — as of Nov. 25. The association urges member hospital leaders to continue asking their House members to sign the letter.
Leadership
Leadership in the 119th Congress and the incoming Trump administration is taking shape. In the House of Representatives, Democrats confirmed Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) as their party leader, maintaining continuity as Republicans renominated Mike Johnson (R-La.) as Speaker of the House. The House will confirm the Speaker with a final vote on Jan. 3, 2025.
In the Senate, Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) was elected as the new Senate Majority Leader, succeeding Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.); Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) will remain in leadership as the Senate Minority Leader.
As President-elect Donald Trump prepares for his second term, he has prioritized appointing leaders in public health agencies with a focus on combating chronic diseases. Among the notable nominations:
- Robert Kennedy Jr., secretary of Health and Human Services
- Mehmet Oz, MD, administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
- Dave Weldon, MD, for director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Marty Makary, MD, as commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration
- Janette Nesheiwat, MD, as surgeon general
Senate confirmations are required, unless the president-elect attempts to use recess appointments to expedite placement of these cabinet positions and other key administrative roles.
Committee Activity This Week
The House and Senate are out of session this week in observance of the Thanksgiving federal holiday.
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