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policy

The Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission discusses widening its scope to review disproportionate share hospital funding policy in the context of other Medicaid payments.

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policy

The fiscal year 2024 appropriations package also delays by three months the fiscal year 2025 cut to Medicaid disproportionate share hospital funding, giving lawmakers time after the general election to return to this issue and other year-end spending priorities.

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policy

This “minibus” funding package eliminates Medicaid disproportionate share hospital payment cuts for FY 2024, delays implementation of FY 2025 Medicaid DSH cuts, and does not include harmful site-neutral payment cut policies and burdensome hospital price transparency measures.

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By eliminating this fiscal year’s $8 billion cut to Medicaid disproportionate share hospital funding and delaying the fiscal year 2025 cut, Congress affords policymakers valuable time to find a lasting solution to the decade-long threat to DSH support.

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policy

Following action to avert a partial government shutdown March 1, congressional lawmakers released an appropriations plan for the remainder of the current fiscal year that would eliminate the looming $8 billion cut to Medicaid disproportionate share hospital funding.

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policy

We appreciate the strong precedent of bipartisan support for stopping the Medicaid DSH cuts and urge Congress to act swiftly, before the March 8 deadline, to preserve this vital safety net support and eliminate the DSH reductions for FYs 2024 and 2025.

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policy

Congressional negotiators were at odds this week over extending government funding beyond the March 1 and 8 expirations of current temporary funding measures, the latter of which includes a delay to Medicaid DSH cuts.

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policy

The final rule for Section 203 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, changes how the calculation of a hospital’s Medicaid disproportionate share hospital uncompensated care limit accounts for costs and payments related to Medicare and other dually eligible patients.

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policy

Congressional leaders announced a new, two-part continuing resolution that would fund some government agencies through March 1 and others through March 8; a continued delay of an $8 billion cut to Medicaid disproportionate share hospital funding is in the latter.

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policy

Republicans and Democrats reached an agreement on topline spending levels for fiscal year 2024 but still must hammer out action on various health care issues, including stopping $16 billion cuts to Medicaid disproportionate share hospital payments.

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policy

With two federal government funding measures set to expire Jan. 19 and Feb. 2 and opposition to additional short- or long-term funding, Congress returns from recess to face again the looming threat of a government shutdown.

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policy

House legislation would eliminate $16 billion of Medicaid disproportionate share hospital cuts over two years, an advocacy priority for America's Essential Hospitals. However, the bill includes site-neutral payment and pricing transparency provisions the association opposes.

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policy

A "laddered" measure to fund certain government projects and activities through Jan. 19 and others through Feb. 2 pushed back an $8 billion cut to Medicaid disproportionate share hospital payments. Association advocacy will focus on further delaying or eliminating the cut after Jan. 19.

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policy

A proposed stop-gap funding measure in the House would delay an $8 billion Medicaid disproportionate share hospital (DSH) funding cut through Jan. 19, while Senate legislation would eliminate $16 billion in DSH cuts over the next two fiscal years.

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policy

The committee will examine policies to extend vital federal programs, including eliminating the next two years of scheduled Medicaid disproportionate share hospital funding cuts.

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policy

Newly elected House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) confronts a looming deadline to fund the federal government. Essential hospital advocates come to Washington, D.C., for the association's fall legislative fly-in, Policy Assembly.

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policy

Unless Congress acts, $32 billion in DSH cuts over the next four years will undermine these hospitals and could push some to the brink. The scheduled DSH cuts include an $8 billion reduction on November 18, 2023 — more than two-thirds of all federal DSH spending annually.

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More than 300 of the nation’s largest safety net providers and about 5 percent of all U.S. acute-care hospitals, provided more than a quarter of all charity care nationally in 2021, a new report from America’s Essential Hospitals shows.

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policy

The 11th-hour measure to fund the federal government through Nov. 17 pushed back a damaging $8 billion cut to Medicare disproportionate share hospital payments that had been scheduled for Oct. 1.

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policy

The Department of Health and Human Services published a contingency staffing plan for operations in the absence of enacted annual appropriations for fiscal year 2024.

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policy

In the Sept. 14 letter to House and Senate leaders, members of America’s Essential Hospitals warned of the “far-reaching effects” of scheduled deep cuts to Medicaid disproportionate share hospital funding and said the cuts would “undermine America’s health care safety net.”

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More than 250 hospitals and health systems that care for low-income and marginalized patients and provide essential community services warned of the “far-reaching effects” of scheduled deep cuts to Medicaid DSH funding.

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policy

In a recent letter to House leaders, America's Essential Hospitals voiced its support of a legislative proposal that would avert $16 billion in cuts to Medicaid disproportionate share hospital funding but cautioned against other onerous policies, including for site-neutral payment.

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policy

Political posturing on appropriations has made a government shutdown next month increasingly likely. Congress also faces a Sept. 30 deadline for other key issues, including stopping an $8 billion cut to Medicaid DSH funding.

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policy

With a federal government shutdown looming, Congress likely will be consumed with passing fiscal year 2024 appropriations or a continuing resolution for stopgap funding when lawmakers return to Washington, D.C., in September.

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policy

Unless Congress acts, a devastating, $8 billion cut to Medicaid disproportionate share hospital (DSH) funding will occur Oct. 1. Help us stop this cut by adding your essential hospital to a sign-on letter urging congressional leaders to act quickly.

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policy

Congress must act by Sept. 30 to avert a government shutdown and stop an $8 billion cut to disproportionate share hospital payments. Deadlines also loom for a sweeping pandemic preparedness bill and opioid use disorder treatment services.

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policy

While lawmakers are home during August recess, we encourage you to invite your congressional delegation to visit your hospital and urge them to support essential hospital priorities.

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policy

In a letter organized with help from America's Essential Hospitals, a bipartisan group of lawmakers call on Senate leaders to avert a devastating, $8 billion cut to Medicaid disproportionate share hospital (DSH) funding on Oct. 1. The letter follows a similar communication to House leaders.

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policy

The Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission's June report to Congress includes recommendations on countercyclical disproportionate share hospital policy and explores health care challenges faced by adults leaving incarceration.

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policy

The House Committee on Energy and Commerce approved a measure to eliminate $16 billion of cuts to Medicaid disproportionate share hospital funding as part of a package that also includes measures for pricing transparency and site-neutral payments.

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policy

Language to avert an $8 billion cut to Medicaid disproportionate share hospital payments passed the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee by a 27-0 vote as part of the panel's consideration of 17 health-related bills.

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policy

A bipartisan group of House members sent a letter to the House speaker and Democratic leader urging them to avert an $8 billion cut to Medicaid disproportionate share hospital payments on Oct. 1. America's Essential Hospitals helped build momentum for the letter signing campaign.

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policy

Please urge your House members now to support H.R. 2665, the Supporting Safety Net Hospitals Act, which eliminates two years of looming Medicaid disproportionate share hospital cuts for fiscal years 2024 and 2025.

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policy

The association urged CMS to work with Congress to avoid unintended cuts to Medicaid disproportionate share hospital payments imposed by Section 203.

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policy

Responding to association advocacy, four House lawmakers introduced legislation to eliminate $16 billion in Medicaid disproportionate share hospital (DSH) cuts in fiscal years 2024 and 2025. In a statement, America's Essential Hospitals called on all House members to support the bill.

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policy

The proposal includes numerous policy and payment changes to Medicare’s Inpatient Prospective Payment System for fiscal year 2024, including a 2.8 percent increase in inpatient payment rates.

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policy

The Supporting Safety Net Hospitals Act would eliminate devastating cuts to Medicaid disproportionate share hospital funding in fiscal years 2024 and 2025.

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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.

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policy

The bipartisan PROTECT 340B Act would prohibit discriminatory practices by insurers and pharmacy benefit managers against 340B Drug Pricing Program providers and their contract pharmacies.

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policy

The report reviews how COVID-19 public health emergency policies affected hospital finances and includes state-specific projections for the Medicaid disproportionate share hospital funding cuts scheduled to take effect Oct. 1.

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policy

America's Essential Hospitals and other groups, in a letter to congressional leaders, urge lawmakers to avert an $8 billion cut Oct. 1 to Medicaid disproportionate share hospital funding. President Biden's proposed budget includes measures to protect Medicare.

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policy

The proposed rule implements Section 203 of the 2021 Consolidated Appropriations Act, altering the rules for considering the costs and payments associated with Medicare and commercial dually eligible patients when calculating a hospital’s Medicaid DSH uncompensated care limit.

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policy

In a new podcast series by a physician at association member NYC Health + Hospitals, Beth Feldpush, DrPH, the association's senior vice president of policy and advocacy, unpacks the complex patchwork of payments that keep essential hospitals afloat. 

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The new data on essential hospitals comes in the association’s annual snapshot of its members, Essential Data: Our Hospitals, Our Patients.

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policy

In its March report to Congress, the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission examines the relationship between Medicaid disproportionate share hospital (DSH) allotments, uncompensated care costs, and services for low-income, uninsured populations.

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policy

Ensuring a reliable safety net, one ready to meet the moment in any crisis, means robustly protecting and bolstering the mechanisms and ideals that make the safety net function.

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policy

The association seeks hospital feedback on unintended cuts to disproportionate share hospital payments that resulted from Section 203 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021. President Joe Biden nominated Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson as the 116th associate justice of the Supreme Court.

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policy

A letter to state Medicaid directors defines supplemental payments and designates a system to submit required supplemental payment reports. CMS also notes a lack of data to determine the application of an exception to new rules on Medicaid disproportionate share hospital uncompensated care limits.

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policy

A Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services letter to state Medicaid directors outlines new supplemental payment reporting and Medicaid disproportionate share hospital requirements under the Consolidated Appropriations Act.

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policy

Cutting the DSH program — especially with hospitals still on the front lines of COVID-19 — is misguided. Our latest Our View dispels common misconceptions about these proposed DSH cuts.

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policy

The House voted 220–213 to pass the $1.75 trillion Build Back Better Act. It contains essential hospital priorities related to Medicaid, maternal health, and the health care workforce but also includes harmful cuts to Medicaid disproportionate share hospital and uncompensated care pool payments.

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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.

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policy

The House passed the $1 trillion bipartisan physical infrastructure bill after agreeing on a path forward for the $1.75 trillion "human infrastructure" bill. New language in the human infrastructure measure calls for Medicare to negotiate certain drug prices and retains Medicaid DSH cuts.

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Essential Insights

I entered the practice of law in late 1991, amid what turned out to be one of the most consequential policy debates of the last half-century for essential hospitals. America’s Essential Hospitals, then and since, has been at the heart of every major Medicaid national debate.

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The new data on essential hospitals comes in the association’s annual snapshot of its members, Essential Data: Our Hospitals, Our Patients.

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Essential Insights

Founding member, past board chair, and corporate affiliate member Tom Traylor reflects on the association’s achievements over the past 40 years.

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policy

In an annual report to Congress, the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission finds an increase from 2018 to 2019 in the number of uninsured and in charity care and bad debt. The report includes state-specific projections of the Medicaid disproportionate share hospital allotment.

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policy

Essential hospitals lead the nation in the battle against COVID-19 but new challenges—including COVID variants, vaccination distribution management, and long-term hospitalizations—show more help is needed to ensure providers on the front lines can maintain access to care.

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policy

The $1.9 trillion package temporarily increases Medicaid disproportionate share hospital allotments to ensure essential hospitals receive the same level of payments as they would have expected absent the pandemic. The package returns to the House for a final vote, expected as early as Tuesday.

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policy

The $2.3 trillion package to fund the government, provide new COVID-19 relief, and stimulate the economy would eliminate a $4 billion cut to Medicaid disproportionate share hospital payments and add $3 billion to the Provider Relief Fund, among numerous other changes.

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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.

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policy

The continuing resolution delays until Dec. 19 a scheduled $4 billion cut to Medicaid disproportionate share hospital payments. Meanwhile, lawmakers introduce a new, two-part $908 billion legislative proposal for COVID-19 relief, as well as a deal on legislation regarding surprise medical bills.

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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.

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policy

Without congressional action, the government on Dec. 12 will enter a shutdown and $4 billion will be cut from Medicaid disproportionate share hospital payments. Meanwhile, negotiations are deadlocked on additional COVID-19 relief.

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policy

Lawmakers will prioritize funding for the federal government and additional COVID-19 relief. Join America's Essential Hospitals for a Nov. 18 webinar analyzing the impact of the elections on essential hospitals and health care policy. Registration open for our postelection Policy Assembly, Dec. 8–9.

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policy

Following the Supreme Court's denial of hospitals’ appeal petition, the D.C. Circuit’s decision upholding CMS' third-party payer final rule will stand. This allows CMS to require the offset of third-party payments in calculating the hospital-specific disproportionate share hospital payment limit.

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policy

The House-passed $2.2 trillion COVID-19 relief package would increase Medicaid disproportionate share hospital allotments and the Provider Relief Fund. Meanwhile, Congress now has until Dec. 11 to pass its annual spending bills or agree to another short-term CR.

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Essential hospitals thank House lawmakers for responding to the heavy financial burden of COVID-19 on hospitals with bipartisan action to ease repayment terms for Medicare loans and further delay Medicaid disproportionate share hospital payment cuts.

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policy

House Democrats released a continuing resolution to maintain government funding through Dec. 11. The legislation would delay a $4 billion cut to Medicaid disproportionate share hospital funding and change the recoupment and repayment terms for the Medicare Accelerated and Advance Payment Program.

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policy

CMS issued an information bulletin outlining two approaches for states to reflect third-party payer payments in calculations of uncompensated care costs used to determine hospital-specific Medicaid disproportionate share hospital limits.

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policy

Republicans and Democrats have yet to make progress in negotiations on the next COVID-19 bill; the association shared essential hospital priorities with congressional leadership. A new House bill would ensure hospitals in the 340B Drug Pricing Program will not lose eligibility during the pandemic.

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policy

The highly anticipated bill would add $25 billion to the Provider Relief Fund and extend Medicare telehealth flexibility. It would not block the Medicaid Fiscal Accountability Regulation or delay the Medicaid disproportionate share hospital payment cut scheduled for Dec. 1.

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policy

The rule requiring hospital-specific Medicaid DSH limit calculations to include payments from Medicare and commercial payers now is valid nationwide, with lower courts determining the effective date. Plaintiff hospitals filed a petition to appeal the decision to the United States Supreme Court.

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policy

This targeted allocation distributes $12 billion to 395 hospitals that provided inpatient care for 100 or more COVID-19 patients through April 10. Of that total, $2 billion is allocated to hospitals based on Medicare and Medicaid disproportionate share hospital (DSH) and uncompensated care payments.

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policy

President Trump has signed a $2 trillion package of COVID-19 aid that provides $100 billion to hospitals and other providers, averts cuts to Medicaid disproportionate share hospital (DSH) payments, suspends Medicare sequester cuts, and includes numerous other relief measures.

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policy

CMS issued a frequently asked questions document on how the agency will implement enhanced Medicaid funding to states to support COVID-19 response. The 6.2 percent increase in the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage was included in the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, made law on March 19.

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policy

After two failed votes, senators continue negotiations on a $1.6 trillion funding package to boost the economy and improve access to care during the COVID-19 pandemic. Meanwhile, House Democratic leadership unveiled competing legislation to provide relief.

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policy

In its March report to Congress, the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission included chapters analyzing Medicaid disproportionate share hospital payments, state readiness to report on core quality measure sets, and Section 1115 waiver evaluations.

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policy

America's Essential Hospitals this week is closely following congressional health care committee efforts to develop a robust legislative package to stop impending cuts to Medicaid disproportionate share hospital funding and extend funding for several expiring health care programs.

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policy

After delaying Medicaid DSH cuts and extending funding for other health care programs by five additional months, congressional leaders are expected to leverage the new May 22 expiration date to advance bills to lower drug prices and protect patients from surprise medical bills.

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policy

Congress approved and the president signed a fiscal year 2020 spending package that delays through May 22, 2020, a $4 billion cut to Medicaid disproportionate share hospital payments.

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policy

Congressional leaders have delayed for five months a $4 billion cut to Medicaid disproportionate share hospital payments under comprehensive legislation to fund federal operations for the remainder of fiscal year 2020, which started Oct. 1.

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Today's House vote on a spending package and Senate support will avert the harm sure to result from a $4 billion payment cut for hospitals that care for millions of low-income people. Now, we must turn to longer-term relief for essential hospitals and their patients.

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policy

The package, expected to become law, would delay a $4 billion cut to Medicaid disproportionate share hospital payments through May 22, 2020. It does not include proposals to reduce surprise medical bills or prescription drug prices.

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policy

Bipartisan Senate committee leaders released drug pricing legislation that includes a provision to eliminate $12 billion of Medicaid disproportionate share hospital cuts over two years. House and Senate committees announced bipartisan legislation to end surprise billing.

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America's Essential Hospitals is pleased to see that bipartisan Senate drug pricing legislation would repeal two years of Medicaid disproportionate share hospital payment cuts.

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policy

Lawmakers have three weeks to agree on funding for the federal government and various health care programs, including Medicaid disproportionate share hospital payments. The House resumes its impeachment investigation with a Judiciary Committee hearing.

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policy

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services issued a Nov. 18 proposed rule, the Medicaid Fiscal Accountability Regulation, that would make sweeping changes to how states finance the nonfederal share of their Medicaid programs.

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policy

The latest continuing resolution, which funds the government through Dec. 20, will give Congress more time to negotiate a longer-term agreement on government spending and relief from impending cuts to Medicaid disproportionate share hospital payments.

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We thank House and Senate lawmakers for again standing with essential hospitals and vulnerable patients by delaying an unsustainable, damaging cut to Medicaid disproportionate share hospital payments.

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policy

The House is scheduled to vote on a continuing resolution that would extend federal funding through Dec. 20 and further delay a scheduled $4 billion cut to Medicaid disproportionate share hospital (DSH) payments; House impeachment hearings continue.

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policy

The agency proposes to increase transparency in Medicaid supplemental payments and impose more stringent requirements on those payments and their financing for states and providers.

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policy

Twelve spending bills must advance through Congress and be signed by the president by Nov. 21 to fully fund the federal government for fiscal year 2020.

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policy

Essential hospital leaders will meet with lawmakers this week at our fall Policy Assembly amid government funding talks and drug pricing negotiations.

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policy

Essential hospitals tackle social determinants of health while operating with limited means. Congress must act to preserve the federal support essential hospitals rely on to fulfill their mission of care for all and keep communities healthy.

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policy

Negotiations continue on funding the federal government — and averting Medicaid DSH cuts — while House committees hold hearings and markups on the Lower Drug Costs Now Act.

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policy

Plaintiffs in the court case that resulted in the reinstatement of the third-party payer rule have filed a petition for rehearing.

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policy

The final rule, implementing disproportionate share hospital payment cuts for fiscal years 2020–2025 should they take effect, includes revisions to the methodology for determining each state's allotment reduction for each fiscal year.

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policy

A continuing resolution to fund the federal government, including the disproportionate share hospital program, through Nov. 21 heads to the Senate; House Speaker Pelosi introduces a drug pricing bill.

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policy

The methodology outlines how the agency will calculate states’ Medicaid disproportionate share hospital payment reductions and encourages states to target remaining payments to hospitals caring for the most low-income patients.

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The continuing resolution averts the imminent and deeply damaging $4 billion cut to Medicaid disproportionate share hospital payments.

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policy

DSH cuts will start Oct. 1 without congressional action; House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) is expected to introduce a drug pricing proposal; the House considers a stopgap government funding measure.

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policy

Lawmakers must act before Oct. 1 to stop the $4 billion cut to Medicaid disproportionate share hospital payments, extend expiring health care programs, and fund government operations for fiscal year 2020.

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policy

The agreement would stop a $125 billion budget cut and increase defense and nondefense discretionary spending while raising the debt limit for two years.

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policy

A House panel marked up legislation to eliminate $16 billion in Medicaid disproportionate share hospital cuts, mitigate surprise bills, and fund expiring health care programs.

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Today, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce takes an important step toward saving essential hospitals from a fiscal cliff by approving legislation that would eliminate two years of deep cuts to Medicaid disproportionate share hospital funding.

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policy

The commission's June report to Congress includes recommendations on the use of third-party payments in calculating Medicaid disproportionate share hospital payments and on Medicaid prescription drug policy.

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policy

A House subcommittee hearing features testimony from an essential hospital on the importance of Medicaid disproportionate share hospital funding. The House is expected to approve a bill providing $385 million in annual funding for the Hospital Preparedness Program.

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policy

A bipartisan group of 300 House lawmakers sent a letter to leadership calling for a two-year delay of Medicaid disproportionate share hospital cuts. The House will vote on a legislative package to expedite the availability of generic drugs and protect parts of the Affordable Care Act.

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We applaud the letter’s organizers, Reps. Eliot Engel (D-NY) and Pete Olson (R-TX), and all their House colleagues for recognizing the severe threat posed by Medicaid disproportionate share hospital payment cuts and standing up for patients, communities, and hospitals.

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policy

The House this week will take up legislation to protect people with pre-existing conditions and help generic drug and biosimilar manufacturers bring their products to market. A House letter calling for a delay of Medicaid DSH payment cuts has 286 bipartisan signatures; the deadline to sign is May 8.

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policy

A House letter calling for a delay of Medicaid disproportionate share hospital payment cuts has 178 bipartisan signatures; the deadline to sign is May 3. A House committee holds the first congressional hearing on the Medicare for All Act.

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policy

A letter circulating in Congress calling for a delay of Medicaid disproportionate share hospital payment cuts has gained more than 110 bipartisan signatures. The president signed a Medicaid extenders package, which includes a provision identical to the Advancing Care for Exceptional (ACE) Kids Act.

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policy

Hearings focused on rising drug costs and pricing transparency. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) reintroduced a measure to bolster consumer protections under the Affordable Care Act. Both chambers will return to legislative business on April 29.

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New data from America’s Essential Hospitals show that persistently high levels of uncompensated and charity care pushed average margins down to one-fifth that of other hospitals in 2017, reflecting financial pressure that could deepen with federal funding cuts this year.

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policy

Reps. Eliot Engel (D-NY) and Pete Olson (R-TX) are circulating a bipartisan letter to their colleagues calling for a two-year delay of an impending $4 billion cut to Medicaid disproportionate share hospital (DSH) funding.

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policy

The report proposes three recommendations responding to Medicaid disproportionate share hospital allotment reductions and responds to concerns about the accuracy and completeness of available upper payment limit data.

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The Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission analysis shows hospitals that care for Medicaid and uninsured patients still depend on Medicaid disproportionate share hospital payments to meet this mission. Congress must act now to stop the October disproportionate share hospital payment cuts.

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policy

The president's fiscal year 2020 budget plan calls on Congress to significantly reform the two programs, including ending Medicaid expansion and changing Medicare uncompensated care payments.

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policy

Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission members unanimously approved three recommendations to mitigate the impending Affordable Care Act–mandated Medicaid disproportionate share hospital allotment reductions.

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webinar

Join us for a preview of the 2018 midterm elections, and learn how you can educate congressional candidates about the issues that matter most to your hospital.

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policy

This year's report includes the commission’s statutorily required annual analysis of Medicaid disproportionate share hospital payments, as well as chapters on Medicaid managed care and telehealth.

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policy

A federal court in Washington, D.C., vacated a final rule requiring Medicaid disproportionate share hospital limit calculations to include Medicare and commercial insurance payments; the court explicitly issued a decision with nationwide impact.

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policy

A federal court in Missouri ruled that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ April 2017 third-party payer DSH final rule is unenforceable. This decision is the first to invalidate the final rule.

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policy

America’s Essential Hospitals thanks its member hospitals and congressional champions for their hard work and advocacy during the lengthy process to finalize a two-year delay of Medicaid disproportionate share hospital funding cuts.

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Congress made the right choice this morning for patients and communities by voting to halt damaging cuts to hospitals that care for low-income working families and others who face financial challenges.

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America's Essential Hospitals praises lawmakers for including a two-year delay of Medicaid disproportionate share hospital (DSH) payment cuts in the latest proposal to fund the federal government.

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policy

The measure, which updates a continuing resolution set to expire on Feb. 8, delays cuts to Medicaid disproportionate share hospital payments for fiscal years 2018 and 2019.

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The groups called for swift action on seven programs and policies lawmakers left out of a Jan. 19 continuing resolution that funds the government through Feb. 8 and that extended the Children’s Health Insurance Program by six years.

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policy

The association continues to work with congressional leadership and staff to ensure a delay of Medicaid disproportionate share hospital cuts is included in the next funding measure; Senate confirms new Health and Human Services Secretary.

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policy

The measure passed by Congress and signed by President Trump Monday funds the government through Feb. 8 and extends the Children's Health Insurance Program six years, but leaves unresolved a delay of Medicaid disproportionate share hospital cuts.

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policy

The Senate needs 60 votes to avoid a filibuster and pass the continuing resolution. There are only 51 Republicans in the Senate, and several have said they won’t vote for the bill in its current form.

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We commend the House for funding the Children’s Health Insurance Program, but regret lawmakers chose not to extend the same support to hospitals at the center of our health care safety net.

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The harm from disproportionate share hospital cuts is imminent, but not unavoidable. Congress must act immediately to stop the cuts in its next government funding measure.

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policy

As Congress focuses on Jan. 19 funding deadline, America's Essential Hospitals continues pressure to delay Medicaid disproportionate share hospital cuts. The Trump administration releases guidance on work requirements for Medicaid recipients.

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The chief executives of 18 of the nation’s largest hospital systems that care for low-income patients asked congressional leaders for a two-year delay of Medicaid disproportionate share hospital payment cuts.

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policy

The association launched an advocacy and media campaign calling on Congress to delay Medicaid disproportionate share hospital payment cuts as part of a long-term government funding measure.

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The association is using Capitol Hill advocacy, member mobilization, and advertising to halt current disproportionate share hospital (DSH) cuts and delay further cuts for at least two years.

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policy

Congress returns from recess to focus on long-term solutions after passing a short-term bill to fund the government through Jan. 19; lawmakers push for delay of 340B Drug Pricing Program cuts.

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policy

America’s Essential Hospitals will continue its fight to stop the onset of these cuts, and have assurances that lawmakers are committed to a two-year delay. We urge Congress to act swiftly to delay the Medicaid DSH cuts when lawmakers return in January.

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policy

The final tax deal includes the repeal of the Affordable Care Act's individual mandate, Advance Refunding Bonds and Private Activity Bonds.

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policy

Tax reform legislation heads to a House-Senate conference committee. Meanwhile, a bill to delay Medicaid disproportionate share hospital payment cuts could be included in year-end legislation.

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policy

The legislative priorities include a health care extenders package, tax reform, and a long-term funding bill. Also, bipartisan House legislation to halt 340B payment cuts now has more than 50 cosponsors.

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policy

The House passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act; the Senate version of the tax reform bill includes a repeal of the Affordable Care Act's individual mandate.

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The vote moves us a step closer to protecting funding for hospitals that care for uninsured and underinsured patients and to preserving access to care for our nation’s children. America's Essential Hospitals now calls on the Senate to act in bipartisan fashion to do the same.

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policy

In a Nov. 2 Federal Register notice, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services posted final DSH allotments for FY 2015 and preliminary allotments for FY 2017.

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policy

The CHAMPIONING HEALTHY KIDS Act extends Children's Health Insurance Program funding for five years and delays cuts to Medicaid disproportionate share hospital payments for two years.

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America's Essential Hospitals thanks House leaders for supporting vulnerable patients and essential hospitals with a proposed two-year delay of Medicaid disproportionate share hospital funding cuts.

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policy

Senate and House bills to fund the Children's Health Insurance Program are similar, but the House version includes a one-year delay of Medicaid disproportionate share hospital cuts.

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America's Essential Hospitals appreciates the one-year delay of cuts to disproportionate share hospital payments and will continue to work with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle for a two-year delay to provide greater stability for hospitals and more time to find a long-term fix.

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America’s Essential Hospitals applauds the HEALTHY KIDS Act for extending the Children’s Health Insurance Program but remains concerned the bill's disproportionate share hospital provision will make it harder to find a sustainable solution to uncompensated care.

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policy

The federal fiscal year came to a close Sept. 30, ending a nearly yearlong congressional effort to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act and bringing tax reform efforts and other health care priorities to the forefront in Congress.

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policy

Reductions to Medicaid disproportionate share hospital (DSH) payments, as mandated by the Affordable Care Act, went into effect on Oct. 1. A total of $2 billion will be cut from Medicaid DSH funding in fiscal year 2018 alone.

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The signers of the letter to Ryan and Pelosi include 162 Democrats and 59 Republicans from 41 states. They also include five House committee chairs and 13 committee ranking members.

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The proposal appears to significantly restrict federal health care funding through per-capita caps and block grants; shift costs to states, patients, providers, and taxpayers; and achieve the same result as earlier bills: millions left uninsured.

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In a letter to House and Senate committees, leaders of more than 250 hospitals and health systems nationally urge Congress to stop a $2 billion disproportionate share hospital cut scheduled for Oct. 1 and to delay cuts for at least two years.

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policy

The proposed reductions are set to take effect Oct. 1; the association recommended the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services protect state disproportionate share hospital payment allotments from total elimination, among other suggestions.

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policy

Substantial cuts to Medicaid disproportionate share hospital payments are set to begin on Oct. 1; strong and immediate input from essential hospitals is vital to successfully secure another delay.

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policy

The newly released set of frequently asked questions relates to potential payment issues for Medicaid managed care patients in institutions for mental disease.

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policy

Senate committees will focus on market stabilization legislation and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) reauthorization; the association seeks to attach to the CHIP bill a delay of Medicaid disproportionate share hospital payment cuts.

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policy

Courts in Minnesota, Tennessee, and Virginia have ruled in favor of hospitals challenging the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services' inclusion of Medicare and commercial payments in the calculation of disproportionate-share hospital payment limits.

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policy

The brief projects Medicaid disproportionate share hospital payment reductions under the Affordable Care Act and the House-passed American Health Care Act.

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policy

A white paper calls for a stop to impending cuts to Medicaid disproportionate share hospital (DSH) payments and recommends modernizing existing DSH policy.

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policy

Three new amendments garnered enough Republican support to pass the bill in a 217-213 vote; CBO has not scored the bill since the amendments were added.

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webinar

The policy team at America's Essential Hospitals discussed the regulatory outlook for the next year, including key policy issues on the horizon.

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policy

CMS finalizes the agency's interpretation that, in determining hospital-specific DSH payment limits, the total costs of care for Medicaid inpatient and outpatient services must account for all third-party payments.

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policy

House GOP leadership pulled the bill due to inadequate support; the association now resumes its focus on other hospital-related issues, including DSH cuts.

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policy

MACPAC's March report includes analysis on Medicaid DSH and impacts of the ACA on hospitals, as well as recommendations for the future of CHIP.

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policy

The American Health Care Act offers some relief for the safety net, but the association remains deeply concerned about substantial changes to Medicaid.

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Today's reports of a draft policy brief describing how House Republicans would replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA) raise significant concerns about whether the plan could protect the health of low-income and other struggling Americans.

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If Congress fails to replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA) with a comparable plan, coverage losses and scheduled cuts to hospital funding would total up to $40.5 billion nationally for hospitals that fill a safety-net role, a new analysis shows.

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webinar

Attendees heard about the current status of health care legislation, including efforts to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act.

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policy

A memo instructs all executive departments and agencies to temporarily halt pending regulations until incoming department or agency heads can review them.

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policy

MACPAC's recommendation is part of a larger package of suggestions meant to improve coverage for children in low- and moderate-income families.

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webinar

In this webinar we looked back at the 2016 advocacy landscape, discussed the progress we have made on key issues affecting essential hospitals, reviewed our interaction with the Trump transition team, and looked forward to 2017. Webinar Recording

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policy

The letter was signed by America's Essential Hospital and 20 other national organizations.

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policy

The notice contains state-specific, final FY 2014 disproportionate share hospital allotments, without reductions that would have been imposed under the ACA.

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policy

Aggregate data collected by the association will help inform advocacy on disproportionate share hospital payments and other funding support.

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webinar

Sarah Mutinsky will be covering the rules and challenges of financing non-federal Medicaid payments.

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Association thanks commission for "thoughtful and sobering analysis" of disproportionate share hospital funding, agrees with recommendation for better targeting.

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policy

The law also delays Medicaid DSH payment cuts for an additional year - until fiscal year 2018 - and extends CHIP funding for two years.

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Association praises Congress and the administration for replacing broken SGR, delaying DSH cuts an additional year, and extending CHIP funding

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policy

The Senate will vote on the SGR measure after a two-week recess. Both chambers also passed budget legislation before adjourning.

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policy

DSH cuts would be eliminated in FY 2017, and DSH would be "rebased," extending cuts by one year, to 2025.

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policy

Contact your lawmakers on the House Energy and Commerce and Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions committees to underscore the critical need for the 340B program. An update on the SGR package will be provided as more information is available.

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policy

New association materials include messaging on Medicaid DSH, Medicare, risk adjustment for sociodemographic status, 340B, and more.

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policy

The budget would extend Medicaid DSH cuts another year and reduce Medicare payments for outpatient services, medical education, and bad debt, among other threats to essential hospitals.

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policy

In a new policy brief, America's Essential Hospitals describes how billions of dollars in reductions to Medicaid and Medicare funding threaten care at essential hospitals.

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policy

A district court has granted a preliminary injunction restricting HHS and CMS from altering the hospital-specific DSH limit without following notice-and-comment procedures.

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policy

Agency reverts to position recommended by America's Essential Hospitals to define uninsured status at the service level for purposes of calculating DSH payments; sets Dec. 31 as start of new policy

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policy

CMS returns to a pre-2008 definition of uninsured that includes whether a patient is covered for a particular service, among other changes.

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White House report a positive sign, but essential hospitals continue to face significant uncompensated care burden and looming cuts to disproportionate share hospitals payments

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policy

Plans include evaluating potential data sources, constructing an operational model to estimate state-level DSH allocations, and consulting with stakeholders throughout the process.

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Essential Insights

Staff from our members held 100 meetings with their senators and representatives to discuss what defines an essential hospital and the key issues facing essential hospitals. Issues included: protecting essential hospital payments, ensuring essential hospitals are included in marketplace health insurance plan networks, and preserving support for training future clinicians at essential hospitals.

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policy

It provides information to help states prepare for the end of the transition period established in 2008. CMS specifically outlines the requirements independent auditors must follow when conducting annual DSH audits, as well as information to help states calculate uncompensated care costs.

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policy

Association members explained what makes an essential hospital and the key issues facing essential hospitals to their policymakers on the Hill. The event also included reflections from senior Capitol Hill and administration staff and two award ceremonies that recognized members of Congress and congressional staff for their commitment to essential hospitals.

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policy

House and Senate lawmakers also to discuss budget proposals, including president's

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policy

In a major victory for essential hospitals, a House committee late last night posted physician payment legislation that includes an additional year delay in Medicaid disproportionate share hospital (DSH) cuts and requires an annual DSH report sought by America’s Essential Hospitals. The changes come in a House Rules Committee bill to extend the current patch

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policy

Medicare GME and IME cuts, bad debt cuts, and Medicaid DSH rebasing are included in the proposal. The association will continue to follow these concerning issues closely.

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policy

The notice contains state-specific FY 2014 DSH allotments - without the ACA-mandated reductions. America's Essential Hospitals achieved a major legislative victory with a two-year delay of the Medicaid DSH cuts. The FY 2014 Joint Budget Resolution repealed the FY 2014 Medicaid DSH cuts, and delayed the FY 2015 Medicaid DSH cuts until FY 2016.

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Cuts to disproportionate share hospital payments and federal support for hospitals' bad debt, as well as reductions in graduate medical education funding, threaten to hurt the same people who would benefit from tax relief in the administration's fiscal year 2015 budget.

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