New Resources Provide Updates, Insight into Health Insurance Trends

February 15, 2019

The Commonwealth Fund recently released a survey assessing the extent and quality of coverage for U.S. working-age adults, and an interactive map that lays out states' efforts to access adequate health insurance.

More >

Supreme Court Committee Postpones Consideration of Venue Rule Change

February 14, 2019

Following significant outcry from the hospital community, health care leaders, business leaders, and policymakers, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court Civil Procedural Rules Committee today announced that it will delay making changes to a key medical liability rule until it has reviewed the results of a legislative study.

More >

Newly Introduced Federal Legislation Would Offer Flexibility for Rural Hospitals to Meet the Needs of Rural Communities

February 13, 2019

Two new legislative proposals introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives would provide flexibility for rural providers to appropriately manage the length of stay of patients served by critical access hospitals and better leverage the clinical workforce to provide care to patients in underserved communities.

More >

House State Budget Hearings Begin with Independent Fiscal Office

February 11, 2019

Today, the state House Appropriations Committee began its series of Pennsylvania state budget hearings, with testimonies from the Independent Fiscal Office (IFO), Department of Revenue, and Department of Aging.

More >

HAP Convenes Health Care Talent Task Force; Efforts Align with Governor’s Budget Priorities

February 07, 2019

HAP has convened a Health Care Talent Task Force to guide the development of strategies that will help attract and retain the health care talent pool needed to provide quality, patient-centered care for Pennsylvania communities. The goals of the workforce align with the Governor’s dedication to developing Pennsylvania’s workforce as expressed during his recent budget address.

More >

New AHA and HHS Roadmaps for Sustainable Rural Health Care Align with HAP Initiatives

February 06, 2019

The American Hospital Association (AHA) this week released a new report, “Challenges Facing Rural Communities and the Roadmap to Ensure Local Access to High-quality Affordable Care,” outlining the challenges that threaten rural hospitals’ ability to maintain access to health care services in their communities.  Also this week, in remarks at the National Rural Health Association’s meeting in Washington, D.C., Alex Azar II, U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) unveiled three strategies for making rural health care affordable, accessible, and high quality.

More >

Governor Wolf’s Budget Proposal Protects Hospital Supplementals and Tobacco Funds and Spotlights Workforce Development

February 05, 2019

More >

HAP Statement: Governor’s Budget Plan Protects Key Hospital Funding Lines, Spotlights Workforce Development

February 05, 2019

Andy Carter, President and CEO of The Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania (HAP), released the following statement regarding Governor Tom Wolf's state budget address, which was delivered today.

More >

State Senate Passes Senate Judiciary Chair Baker’s Resolution Calling for Study on Venue Rule Change

February 05, 2019

Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Lisa Baker (R-Luzerne) secured Senate approval for her resolution to study the Supreme Court Civil Procedural Rules Committee’s proposed rule change to venue.

More >

HAP Supports House Republican Leaders’ Efforts to Protect Access to Care, Fight Return of Venue Shopping

January 30, 2019

HAP joins House Republican leaders, physicians, and business and health care executives to address venue reform and access to care.

More >

CDC Data Brief Studies Office-based Physician Visits; Highlights Chronic Conditions as Key Factor for Visits

January 28, 2019

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Center for Health Statistics recently issued a data brief identifying trends related to patient visits to physician offices.

More >

U.S. Uninsured Rate Rises to Highest Point in Four Years

January 24, 2019

According to findings from data collected as a part of the Gallup National Health and Well-Being Index, the percentage of U.S. adults without insurance is 13.7 percent, the highest level in more than four years.

More >

New Report Considers Impact of Drug Prices and Shortages on Hospitals and Patient Care

January 23, 2019

As both Congress and the Administration place a focus on exploring policy options to address rising drug prices, a new report identifies challenges facing hospitals and patients in managing the financial burden of increased spending on prescription drugs, and the threat of disruption in access to care resulting from shortages of critical medications.

More >

American Hospital Association Names Human Trafficking a Key Focus for 2019 Anti-violence Initiative

January 18, 2019

January is National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month, and the American Hospital Association’s Hospitals Against Violence Initiative has named human trafficking as a main focus area for 2019

More >

CMS Announces Completion of New Medicare Card Distribution

January 16, 2019

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) today announced that it has completed distribution of new Medicare cards to more than 61 million beneficiaries across the country.

More >