National Health Reform—Seek adoption of hospital principles in final national health reform bill.
Reform efforts must be accomplished through a model of shared responsibility.
Reform efforts must expand coverage for the uninsured.
Reform efforts must enable health care providers to have the resources to implement successful quality improvement initiatives.
Reform efforts must include responsible reimbursement for health care services that ensures that every payer contributes its fair share of reasonable costs instead of shifting those costs onto patients and providers.
Reform efforts must support the education and training of new physicians and other health care professionals.
Reform efforts must focus on wellness by improving access to primary care, health education and promoting healthy lifestyles.
Health Care Financing—Seek fair and adequate financing and insurance practices.
Address current budget year and regulatory Medicare and Medicaid payments issues.
Seek an extension of the increase in FMAP beyond December, 2010.
Block reductions in Medicare and Medicaid spending, including strategic reductions, such as disproportionate share, other changes in payment policy, in the federal budget.
Support reform of the currently inequitable and flawed Medicare wage index system. New funding should accompany any fundamental wage index reform.
Seek access to hospital capital financing to modernize and upgrade facilities.
Seek pension reforms that benefit hospitals.
Include hospitals in any federal economic stimulus package/jobs package.
Secure payments for rural health, health professions education, and research.
Protect the federal tax-exempt status of non profit hospitals.
Health Care Delivery—Promote affordable, safe, and accessible health care services.
Support access to public and private financing to further implement health information technology.
Support legislation that lowers medical liability costs or improves predictability and stability.
Support legislation that enables hospitals to improve quality and safety of care.
Support legislation that prohibits health care practitioner self-referrals.
Workforce—Assist hospitals in retaining and recruiting professional and support workforce.
Oppose onerous legislation and regulation (such as staffing ratios, changes to the definition of supervisor, etc.) that would exacerbate workforce shortages or impose additional administrative burdens on hospitals.
Oppose Employee Free Choice Act legislation, known as the “card check bill.”
Support funding, grants, and expansion of workforce programs.
