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.

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.

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.

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.

Unless Congress acts by May 22, Medicaid DSH will sustain a $4 billion cut—a third of all program funding. Rising numbers of uninsured and other cost pressures, including deep cuts to outpatient payments, would amplify the damage.

The proposed Medicaid Fiscal Accountability Regulation would sharply curtail flexibility states now have to finance and structure Medicaid to serve vulnerable people. Congress must step in immediately and demand that CMS withdraw this damaging rule in its entirety.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Medicaid DSH funding faces cuts of $4 billion in fiscal year (FY) 2020 and $8 billion in FY 2021. These crippling reductions would come on top of recent deep cuts to Medicare outpatient payments to essential hospitals.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Medicaid DSH funding will suffer a $4 billion cut October 1 to help pay for a coverage expansion that has yet to occur. We urge Congress to act now and stop this devastating cut.

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.

Recent policy changes have drained vital funding and threaten a financial crisis at essential hospitals. Without action by Congress, communities nationwide will lose access to care and vital support services.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

America's Essential Hospitals asks Congress to postpone Medicaid disproportionate share hospital payment cuts until they can reach a sustainable solution.

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.

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.

As the Senate considers the Better Care Reconciliation Act (BCRA) of 2017, America’s Essential Hospitals and its more than 300 members urge lawmakers to protect low-income and other Americans who face financial challenges—and the hospitals on which they rely.

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.