Congressional leaders reached a $1.37 trillion spending agreement yesterday, which would repeal several ACA taxes (e.g, Cadillac tax, health insurer tax and medical device tax), delay payment cuts to disproportionate share hospitals (DSH) until May 22, 2020, and fund gun violence research.

While Congress was negotiating the agreement, KHA contacted the Kentucky congressional delegation to once again urge them to delay Medicaid DSH cuts for a full year. The messaging included the KHA Medicaid DSH issue paper. This paper and others are available for your use when discussing issues with your legislators at www.kyha.com/policy.

Congress is expected to pass the legislation this week, ahead of the December 20 government shutdown deadline, and send it to President...

Last week, KHA President Nancy Galvagni attended a national AHA Regional Policy Board meeting in Washington, DC. While there, she visited Kentucky's senators and several congressmen on September 10. Staying engaged with Kentucky's elected representatives keeps the hospital message on their minds, and she was able to learn more from them about the issues currently facing Congress.

Even though there is a budget deal, Congress has not yet passed appropriations bills required to fund the government. This will not happen before October 1, so it is expected that there will be a continuing resolution passed to fund the government through early December.

It is likely that legislation on Medicaid disproportionate share hospital funding (DSH), drug pricing and surprise biling will all come together at the end of the year.

The good news is that there appears to be agreement on a two-year delay of the Medicaid DSH cuts.

Drug Pricing

The Senate Finance Committee passed a drug pricing...

KHA will host a Roundtable Meeting with Congressman Brett Guthrie at Owensboro Health Regional Hospital on August 23 starting at 1:00 p.m. (CT). This is a great opportunity to further Kentucky hospitals’ key federal issues and how they affect the Congressman's district specifically.

If you would like to attend this event, please RSVP to Claire Arant at KHA (carant@kyha.com).

 

A group of KHA members visited Washington last week, led by KHA President Nancy Galvagni, to meet with members of the Kentucky congressional delegation.

Thanks to the team for taking time from their busy schedules to participate in this important advocacy trip. Pictured above are Bud Warman, Highlands Regional Medical Center; Joe Grossman, Appalachian Regional Healthcare; Nancy Galvagni; Nina Eisner, Ridge Behavioral Health System; Sherri Craig, CHI Saint Joseph Health and KentuckyOne Health; Rosanne Nields, St. Elizabeth Healthcare; and Lourdes Baez, Baptist Health.

Participants presented KHA's Federal Issues for Summer 2019 to the congressmen and their staff members while discussing...

KHA will host a Roundtable Meeting with Congressman Brett Guthrie at Owensboro Health Regional Hospital on August 23 starting at 1:00 p.m. (CT). This is a great opportunity to further Kentucky hospitals’ key federal issues and how they affect the Congressman's district specifically.

If you would like to attend this event, please RSVP to Claire Arant at KHA (carant@kyha.com).