Any Willing Insurer
HAP opposes Any Willing Insurer proposals, which would force hospitals to contract with any interested insurer as a requirement to obtain their tax-exempt status. This approach forces a one-size-fits-all system for how hospitals must contract with insurers and how they are paid for patient care. Any Willing Insurer would hinder contracts that promote innovative care models and hospitals' ability to address specific patient and community health care needs. HAP advocates for elective network contracting, which is a fundamental to the competitive process and the concept of managed care––adopted by the state and federal governments to control costs and improve care.
Community Health Needs Assessments
Under the ACA, not-for-profit hospitals are required to conduct Community Health Needs Assessments (CHNA) every three years. These assessments identify the main health needs and challenges facing the patients and communities that the hospital serves. Hospitals get this information through focus groups, interviews, surveys, analysis of health indicators, and data collection. They determine how to approach these health problems by developing, implementing, and evaluating improvement plans.
The ACA implements the community health needs assessment requirement through changes in the Internal Revenue Code. The Internal Revenue Service's Schedule H form and instructions address how not-for-profit hospitals report CHNA activities on their Form 990. Additionally, Schedule H, Part V, incorporates the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code Section 501(r) as contained in the ACA.
HAP Contacts
For more information, contact Heather Tyler, vice president, state legislative advocacy, or Jolene Calla, Esq., vice president, finance & legal affairs. Media inquiries should be directed to Liam Migdail, vice president, strategic communications.