The American Hospital Association (AHA) asks the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to directly and expediently distribute to rural and urban hospitals and health systems funds from the Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund that were designated for providers in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
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 Urges HHS and CMS to Distribute Funds to Hospitals and Health Systems as Designated by CARES Act
In a letter to Secretary Mnuchin and IRS Commissioner Rettig, the AHA, AAMC and Catholic Health Association request that the IRS provide a six-month automatic extension for filing Forms 990, 990-T, and 4720 to any Section 501(c)(3) organization that is required to file Form 990, Schedule H. In addition, the organizations recommended that the IRS not impose any penalties if any hospital facilities operated by the section 501(c)(3) organization required to file Schedule H are delayed up to one year in completing a community health needs assessment or implementation plan.
In a letter to CMS Administrator Seema Verma regarding the expansion of Medicare’s accelerated payment program and creation of an add-on payment for Medicare patients with COVID-19, the AHA urges the agency to provide as much flexibility as possible with implementation in order to maximize the program’s effectiveness in supporting providers during the crisis related to COVID-19
At the American Hospital Association our top concern is the health and safety of patients and the physicians, nurses and clinicians who care for them.
The AHA urges the Department of Health and Human Services to clarify its and the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act waivers issued under the public health and national emergency declarations. These declarations allow waivers consistent with section 1135 of the Social Security Act.
Physicians, nurses and our entire medical community are urging all people to stay at home. We
are honored to serve and put our lives on the front line to protect and save as many lives as
possible. But we need your help.
AHA urges the Department of Labor to accurately define “health care provider” when promulgating regulations implementing key sections of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act and clarify how this policy will be operationalized, including how it interacts with state law
America’s hospitals, health systems, physicians and nurses urge you to immediately use the DPA to increase the domestic production of medical supplies and equipment that hospitals, health systems, physicians, nurses and all front line providers so desperately need. As COVID-‐19 continues to spread throughout the country, these supplies are urgently needed to care for our patients and communities.
AHA urges CMS to allow all hospitals to elect to receive periodic interim payments (PIP) or accelerated payments immediately, and with minimal administrative barriers.
AHA urges the HHS Secretary, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator, the Acting IG and the Attorney General to temporarily suspend enforcement of both the Stark Law and the Anti-Kickback Statute to enable hospitals to efficiently meet the demands of the public health crisis and compensate referring physicians and their family members.