The association urged CMS to adequately reimburse off-campus, provider-based departments; refine physician quality reporting; and codify a definition of essential hospitals.

America's Essential Hospitals commented on several policy proposals of interest to essential hospitals and responded to requests for information on maternal health, equity, and climate change.

The association urged HHS to provide funding, educate stakeholders, and build capacity to execute the 2022 Environmental Justice Strategy and Implementation Plan.

The association thanked the administration for taking steps to reverse the damaging 2019 broadened definition of public charge and made recommendations for developing and implementing a new definition.

The association made recommendations on payment rates, workforce development, eligibility and enrollment policies, and measuring access to hospital services.

Recommendations for Medicare and Medicaid equity measures under development focus on standardized data collection and opportunities for testing and feedback.

In a new Modern Healthcare commentary, association President and CEO Bruce Siegel explains that the proposed Medicaid Fiscal Accountability Regulation would do more to shrink Medicaid than to contribute to program integrity and transparency.

In its submitted comments, the association outlines overarching and specific problems that necessitate withdrawal of the rule to protect the stability and viability of the Medicaid program.

The association urged the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to reverse policies that will result in significant funding cuts to essential hospitals and hinder access to care.

America’s Essential Hospitals expressed concern that changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program could increase food insecurity and worsen health outcomes.

America's Essential Hospitals warns the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services that its proposal will weaken federal oversight of Medicaid payment rates and undermine beneficiary access to care.

America's Essential Hospitals urged the agency to leverage a new pilot program to expand telehealth services in communities essential hospitals serve.

America’s Essential Hospitals expressed concern that changes to nondiscrimination protections will decrease access and worsen outcomes for vulnerable patients, including transgender individuals and individuals with limited English proficiency.

In a July 9 letter to the Department of Housing and Urban Development, America’s Essential Hospitals expressed concern that changes to federal housing assistance eligibility requirements could increase housing instability and worsen health outcomes.

America’s Essential Hospitals encouraged the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to consider the disproportionately negative financial effect on essential hospitals of certain quality reporting requirements and administrative burden in the Promoting Interoperability Programs.

In June 3 letters, America's Essential Hospitals encouraged the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology to consider the regulatory burden that new interoperability requirements would place on essential hospitals.

The guidance comes in response to a recent federal court decision striking down a regulation expanding the availability of association health plans.

America’s Essential Hospitals encouraged the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to suspend publication of the overall hospital quality star ratings until the agency addresses issues with the underlying methodology.

In response to a request for information, America's Essential Hospitals urges the Department of Health and Human Services to ensure enforcement of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act encourages care coordination and reduces regulatory burden on essential hospitals.

America's Essential Hospitals praised the administration’s efforts to streamline managed care regulations for Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program, reduce regulatory burden, and increase state flexibility.

America’s Essential Hospitals urged the agency to promptly finalize its proposal to move up to Jan. 1, 2019, the effective and implementation date for a final rule on the calculation of ceiling prices for drugs purchased through the 340B Drug Pricing Program.

America’s Essential Hospitals encouraged the agency to continue its efforts to reduce regulatory burden at essential hospitals, including through refining Medicare and Medicaid conditions of participation.

In its comments, the association encouraged OIG to narrow the application of anti-kickback statute and beneficiary inducements civil monetary penalty laws to promote value and care coordination.

America’s Essential Hospitals urged the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to reverse policies that will result in significant funding cuts to essential hospitals and hinder access to care.

The association urged the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to adequately reimburse off-campus, provider-based departments and refine physician quality reporting to account for costs of care and the unique needs and patient populations served by essential hospitals.

In its response, the association encouraged federal regulators to revisit the Stark law with an eye toward easing barriers to care coordination and reducing regulatory burden.

The Department of Labor has issued a final rule expanding the definition of "employer" for purposes of establishing association health plans.

This is the latest of several delays of a rule that provides guidance on the calculation of ceiling prices and imposes civil monetary penalties on manufacturers who knowingly exceed them.

To ensure Medicaid beneficiaries' access to quality care, America's Essential Hospitals urges CMS not to issue access monitoring review exemptions to states with high managed care penetration.

In a March 6 comment letter, America's Essential Hospitals urged federal officials to ensure association health plans have proper oversight and cover all necessary services for beneficiaries.

The Feb. 7 letter offers recommendations on proposed executive orders, regulations, and legislation that could affect essential hospitals, patients.

America's Essential Hospitals expressed continued concerns about qualified health plan network adequacy in federally facilitated marketplaces.

In new Modern Healthcare commentary, America's Essential Hospitals president and CEO says proposed guidance conflicts with HHS goals for readmissions, access, and care coordination.