GNYHA’s updated Federal legislative agenda for the remainder of calendar year 2024 highlights the numerous challenges your organizations face and includes the following advocacy priorities:
- Prevent dangerous provider cuts: GNYHA requests that Congress eliminate the $8 billion Medicaid disproportionate share hospital (DSH) payment cut scheduled for January 1, 2025, and address the recently enacted cut to hospital DSH caps.
- Stop Medicare site-neutral cuts: GNYHA requests that Congress reject any Medicare site-neutral cuts to hospital outpatient departments and oppose burdensome changes to national provider identifier policies.
- Protect the 340B Drug Pricing program: GNYHA requests that Congress preserve the 340B program and oppose changes that diminish its benefit to safety net hospitals.
- Strengthen the health care workforce: GNYHA requests that Congress invest in new Medicare-supported graduate medical education (GME) positions and pass the Safety from Violence for Healthcare Employees (SAVE) Act to enhance Federal protections against workplace violence for hospital workers.
- Extend telehealth flexibilities and the Acute Hospital Care at Home waiver: GNYHA requests that Congress extend COVID-19 telehealth flexibilities and the hospital-at-home waiver for at least two more years.
- Hold commercial health insurers accountable: GNYHA requests that Congress pass the Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act to streamline the prior authorization process and increase transparency for Medicare Advantage plans.
- Provider financial relief: GNYHA requests that Congress pass legislation to prevent funding disruptions to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and urge the Biden Administration to expedite the distribution of FEMA public assistance grants to providers for COVID-19-related expenses.
- Invest in long-term care: GNYHA requests that Congress pass policies that support and stabilize not-for-profit and public long-term care providers so that they can maintain high-quality care standards and address workforce challenges.
GNYHA is working closely with the New York Congressional delegation, committees of jurisdiction, and others to include health care provider priorities in upcoming legislation. It is extremely important that GNYHA members engage with Capitol Hill through the remainder of the year and emphasize your organizations’ increased expenses, workforce shortages, and other challenges. We strongly encourage you to contact your Federal elected officials and advocate for financial relief for hospitals, nursing homes, and other health care providers.