Letters

Throughout the year, the AHA comments on a vast number of proposed and interim final rules put forth by the federal regulatory agencies. In addition, AHA communicates with federal legislators to convey the hospital field's position on potential legislative changes that would impact patients and patient care. Below are the most recent letters from the AHA to these bodies.

Latest

AHA comments on the CMS proposed rule for policy and technical changes to the Medicare Advantage program in contract year 2025.
AHA shares comments and ask that commissioners consider the following issues before making their final payment update recommendations at the upcoming Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) meeting.
AHA provides comments to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology on their proposed rule to establish disincentives for providers found to have committed information blocking.
AHA comments on the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act.
AHA expresses support for the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act (H.R. 4531).
AHA comments regarding provisions in the Lower Costs, More Transparency Act (H.R. 5378).
AHA letter expressing concern about a reduction of over 40% in reimbursement for hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) that was published in the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) hospital outpatient prospective payment system (OPPS) final rule for calendar year (CY) 2024.
We appreciate the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission’s (MedPAC) November meeting discussions on Medicare Advantage (MA) prior authorization and network management. As MedPAC begins its discussions on payment adequacy for the Medicare program, we outline concerns about the impact that the shifting labor force and costs have had on hospitals and health systems, including whether the current market basket methodology is adequate to capture these changes.
We strongly support CMS’ efforts to ensure that providers have the resources they need to care for Medicaid beneficiaries, including by increasing transparency and oversight in provider payment. However, we are deeply concerned that certain proposed policies may undercut the agency’s efforts by jeopardizing states’ access to critical financial resources.