February 26, 2021 Senator Casey Outlines Proposal to Boost Medicaid Funding during Economic Crisis During a media briefing today, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D, PA) and U.S. Representative Susie Lee (D, NV) introduced legislation that would automatically link federal Medicaid aid to state unemployment levels—a move the lawmakers said would create a “quicker and more responsive” program that strengthens health care coverage during times of crisis.
February 25, 2021 Former PA Health Secretary Testifies during Confirmation Hearing for HHS Post During a U.S. Senate nomination hearing today, former Pennsylvania Health Secretary Rachel Levine, MD, touted her career in public health advocating for children, battling the opioid crisis, and addressing the COVID-19 pandemic as she begins the confirmation process to serve in a top role in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
February 24, 2021 AHA Report Highlights Financial Fallout from COVID-19 A report released today from the American Hospital Association (AHA) outlines the damaging financial impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on hospitals and the continued pressures they will face during 2021.
February 16, 2021 National Health Care Coalition Outlines Strategy for Universal Coverage Last week, the American Hospital Association and a coalition of leading organizations representing the nation’s physicians, insurance companies, and employers outlined their vision to strengthen the Affordable Care Act and ensure coverage for all.
February 10, 2021 Biden Administration Orders Review of Public Charge Rule President Joe Biden recently issued an executive order asking federal agencies to review the Trump Administration’s public charge rule and other immigration policies that could impact immigrants’ access to health care and other government services.
January 21, 2021 CMS Builds on Interoperability and Finalizes New Prior Authorization Requirements The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently issued its final rule designed to improve the electronic sharing of health care data among payors, providers, and patients (commonly referred to as interoperability), and ensure patients receive timely approval for care.
January 20, 2021 President Biden Calls for Unity during Inaugural Speech; Sets Priorities for COVID-19 Response President Joe Biden was sworn in as the 46th President of the United States on Wednesday, beginning his term with a call for unity and noting the country has “much to repair, much to restore, much to heal, much to build, and much to gain.”
December 22, 2020 Congress Passes Year-End Package Including COVID-19 Relief, Hospital Priorities, and Surprise Balance Billing Policy Late Monday night, the U.S. House and U.S. Senate passed a year-end legislative package that provides critical support for small businesses, workers, and health care providers suffering from the COVID-19 pandemic; offers important relief for hospitals; and addresses the issue of surprise medical bills. The legislation extends funding for the federal government through the end of the federal fiscal year, but additional relief will be necessary during 2021 to continue to support the state’s hospitals and health system.
December 15, 2020 Federal Policymakers Urged to Support Efforts to Manage Health Care Workforce Strain As communities across the nation see increasing COVID-19 case counts, rising hospitalization rates, and suffer from the fatigue of battling the global pandemic, hospitals continue to look for new ways to address the strain on the health care workforce. In Washington, D.C., federal lawmakers are discussing several proposals to maximize the health care workforce through legislative action and regulatory policy.
December 08, 2020 HAP Supports New Federal Bill to Improve Maternal Health Last week, U.S. Senators Pat Toomey (R–PA) and Sherrod Brown (D–OH) introduced legislation designed to improve health outcomes for millions of new and expectant mothers covered under the federal Medicaid program.