Legislation endorsed by the association to strengthen the health care workforce has been introduced in the House.
The Strengthening Pathways to Health Professions Act, which Reps. Jill Tokuda (D-Hawaii) and Carol Miller (R-W.Va.) introduced last week, would strengthen the pipeline of skilled professionals by investing in education, training, and clinical partnerships, ensuring sufficient staff to maintain high-quality care while reducing burnout and turnover among existing employees.
Year-End Funding Package
With just a few days to pass federal funding and avert a government shutdown, lawmakers are under significant pressure to act. They must also renew critical health care provisions set to expire at the end of December.
At the time of this writing, the House is rallying around a continuing resolution extending federal funding through March 2025. This resolution includes measures to address expiring health care programs. America’s Essential Hospitals will share the details of the government funding deal and the health policies package with members once congressional leaders finalize them.
Medicaid DSH Sign-On Letter
Reps. Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas) and Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y.) last week shared a letter, signed by 190 House lawmakers, that calls on House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) to prevent an $8 billion cut to Medicaid disproportionate share hospital (DSH) funding scheduled for Jan. 1.
This follows an association-led letter signed by more than 250 member hospitals to House and Senate leaders urging them to protect Medicaid DSH funding.
House Committee Leadership Change
Rep. Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.) has been elected chair of the 119th Congress’ House Committee on Energy and Commerce, a key committee of jurisdiction over health care policies, including Medicaid and the 340B Drug Pricing Program.
Currently chair of the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health, Guthrie brings extensive experience in health care policy. His priorities include reducing drug costs, increasing transparency, improving supply chains for drugs and devices, and strengthening provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act.
America’s Essential Hospitals has worked closely with Rep. Guthrie on a variety of bipartisan issues and will continue to engage with him and his office on key policy priorities in the next Congress.
Committee Activity This Week
The House and Senate are in session Monday through Thursday this week, with the latter also convening on Friday.
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