Jan. 20Hospital Call-In Day Set for This Week The American Hospital Association is encouraging hospital leadership to participate in “Hospital National Call-In Day” on Jan. 20. Please call 1-866-887-2273 1-866-887-2273 to be connected to your members of Congress. It’s an opportunity to suggest ways for them to improve the final bill.
Jan. 7AHA Letter - Health Reform 1-7-2010
Jan. 6IHA Advocacy Alert 1-6-10
Dec. 16IHA Urges Senators to Reject Medicare Expansion IHA sent letters to Sens. Lugar and Bayh last Friday urging them to oppose an amendment under consideration in the Senate that would expand Medicare. In the letter, IHA notes that it does support efforts to expand coverage for uninsured Americans, but expanding a program that underpays hospitals and doctors is not a solution. Read the press release. The American Hospital Association has also provided numerous public statements on its opposition. Read the AHA’s position in USA Today. Dec. 11Hospitals Oppose Medicare Expansion 12-11-09
Nov. 10IHA Statement on Medicaid Cuts 11-10-09
Nov. 9House Passes Health Reform Bill The U.S. House of Representatives worked into the weekend and passed H.R. 3962 Saturday night. The vote was close (220-215) with Indiana’s delegation splitting along party lines: Yes: Carson, Donnelly, Ellsworth, Hill, Visclosky No: Burton, Buyer, Pence, Souder While Hoosier Blue Dog Democrats all supported the bill, 39 Democrats from other states voted no with only one Republican voting yes. Indiana’s own Rep. Brad Ellsworth played a central role in a last minute compromise over federal funding for abortion.The spotlight now moves to the Senate, but its version of health reform legislation may not be debated on the floor until after Thanksgiving. This would almost guarantee that a final compromise between House and Senate leaders could not be delivered to President Obama for his signature until next year. Read a summary of the House bill.
Oct. 21 Concern Emerges Over Medicare-Based Public Option Advocates for a more aggressive public plan are seeking to create state-based public options that could be based on Medicare. Contact your Congressional members and tell them that a Medicare-based public option would negatively impact hospitals. Tell them that Medicare does not currently cover expenses and this would worsen the existing cost-shifting problem.
Find Your Federal Legislators:A complete list of the Indiana Congressional Delegation is available by clicking here. You will find information about each legislator, such as committee appointments, as well as links to their e-mail addresses, if available.
Sept. 23, 2009
CSPAN Health Care HUB
Sept.16, 2009 AHA Special Bulletin Key provisions of the “America’s Healthy Future Act of 2009,” introduced today by Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus. The health care reform bill expands coverage, introduces new delivery system reforms, reduces Medicare and Medicaid payments, and includes key provisions agreed to by the AHA, Catholic Health Association, and Federation of American Hospitals. Click here for access to the 223-page bill.
Tutorial: Health Reform Legislative Process
Useful Comparisons of the Latest Health Reform Legislation: http://www.kff.org/healthreform/sidebyside.cfm Committees with Jurisdiction over Health Reform: Senate
House
Track the Obama Administration’s roll-out of health reform: http://www.healthreform.gov/
Health Reform Documents:
AHA Reform Bulletin 7-08-09Announcement of AHA's agreement with the Obama Administration and the Senate Finance Commitee.
AHA Member Advisory Document 6-18-09Reform talking points for hospital leaders.
AHA Reform Presentation 6-29-09AHA's presentation to the IHA Board on the status of health care reform.
Call to Action from Senate Finance Chair Max Baucus (D-MT)
April 29, 2009 – Transforming the Health Care Delivery System
May 14, 2009 – Expanding Health Care Coverage
May 20, 2009 – Financing Comprehensive Health Care Reform
Other Useful Resources:
The Kaiser Family Foundation has issued several new resources related to the national debate about comprehensive health reform. Visit their Web site at http://www.kff.org/ to learn more.