The American Hospital Association (AHA) urged thHouse and Senate majority and minority leaders will act on key priorities before the end of the year in comments on November 12. The AHA asked Congress to continue providing relief from Medicaid disproportionate share hospital payment cuts and to continue Medicare-dependent hospitals and low-volume adjustment programs that are set to expire on November 12. December 31.
The AHA also urged Congress to reject site-neutral payment proposals and pass the Improving Timely Access to Care for Seniors Act. This legislation would decrease prior authorization procedures in the Medicare Advantage program.
Additionally, the AHA requested that the home hospitalization waiver be extended through 2029, scheduled cuts in physician reimbursements be mitigated, and the Health Care Employee Safety from Violence Act be passed.
“Physicians have faced more than two decades of reductions in conversion factors, as well as significant staffing shortages and rising inflation in recent years. The scheduled 2.8 percent payment reduction in the 2025 physician fee schedule would result in a significant risk to patients’ access to care,” AHA President and CEO Rick Pollack said in a release.
“Hospitals and health systems are experiencing significant financial pressures that challenge their ability to provide 24/7 care to the patients and communities they serve,” said President and CEO of the AHA, Rick Pollack, in a statement. “Rising expenditures on drugs and supplies, inflation, and the growing burden due to certain denial and delay practices by commercial health insurers continue to put pressure on hospitals and health systems. At the same time, underpayments in Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements are not keeping pace with these rising costs and will exacerbate the problems hospitals are having.”
