The American Hospital Association sent congressional leaders a list of priorities it would like to see the legislature address before the end of 2024:
- Provide relief from Medicaid Disproportionate Share Hospital reductions that are scheduled to take effect Jan. 1.
- Reject site-neutral payment proposals.
- Pass the Improving Seniors' Timely Access to Care Act, which aims to reform the Medicare Advantage prior authorization process.
- Extend hospital-at-home and telehealth waivers.
- Take action to mitigate the scheduled physician reimbursement cuts for 2025 and continue work on broader reform for sustainable payment.
- Protect rural communities' access to care by continuing the Medicare-dependent Hospitals and Low-volume Adjustment programs, which are scheduled to expire on Dec. 31. A technical correction should also be enacted to remove barriers for Rural Emergency Hospitals to receive hospital-level reimbursement for outpatient services under Medicaid.
- Provide federal protections from workplace violence for hospital workers by passing the Safety from Violence for Healthcare Employees Act.
Read AHA's full letter here.