Negotiations continue on COVID-19 legislation – Read the AHA Advocacy Alert

Leaders from the Senate and administration continue to negotiate a third spending package related to COVID-19. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has introduced the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act (S. 3548); however, the Senate legislative language does not reflect a bipartisan agreement. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has said that the House Democrats may release their own package to reflect their priorities. See the summary for provisions included in the legislation introduced by McConnell.

While AHA appreciates that the current legislation includes funding and provisions — such as funding to reimburse hospitals for COVID-19 expenses, elimination of the Medicare sequester through December 2020 and delaying the Medicaid Disproportionate Share Hospital cuts by two years — that are important to hospitals and health systems, we believe that additional areas should be included in the package.

The AHA today sent hospital and health system leaders an Action Alert to contact their lawmakers and urge them to allocate $100 billion to frontline health care personnel and providers and direct the federal agencies to begin to infuse funds immediately so that providers can afford to take the necessary steps to combat COVID-19.