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, health organizations encourage Congressional leaders to advance the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness & Advancing Innovation Act (PAHPAI, H.R. 269). 
AHA letter to Senator Mark Warner regarding reducing cybersecurity vulnerabilities in the health care sector.
AHA letter to the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services regarding the proposed rules related to interoperability published in the Federal Register on March 4, 2019.
AHA letter to Representative Terri Sewell expressing support for the the Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act of 2019 (H.R. 1763).
The AHA responds to the request for information on medical device interoperability from the Networking and Information Technology Research and Development’s Health Information Technology Research and Development Interagency Working Group.
Hospitals and health systems understand the importance of making health care more affordable for everyone and they “have been tackling the issue head on, taking steps to redesign care and implement operational efficiencies,” AHA told Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., in response to a letter seeking input on reducing health care costs.
AHA's comment on the Food and Drug Administration’s draft guidance on blood glucose monitoring test systems for prescription point-of-care use.
AHA urges the Senate to co-sponsor the Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act of 2019 (S. 348), a bipartisan bill, authored by Senators Menendez, Boozman and Schumer, that would increase the number of Medicare-funded residency positions by 15,000 over five years, thereby helping to alleviate physician shortages that threaten patients’ access to care.
Surprise bills can cause patients stress and financial burden at a time of particular vulnerability: when they are in need of medical care. Patients are at risk of incurring such bills during emergencies, as well as when they schedule care at an in-network facility without knowing the network status of all of the providers who may be involved in their care. We must work together to protect patients from surprise bills.
AHA comments on the CMS proposed Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters for 2020.