Urge Lawmakers to Include Hospital Priorities in 'Must-Pass' Legislation
February 22, 2022
Federal Advocacy Alert
Hospitals and health systems are urged to contact their federal representatives to request inclusion of critical hospital and health system priorities in upcoming “must-pass” legislation. Use IHA’s Federal Advocacy Alert to send a message directly to your member of Congress.
Funding for the federal government expires on March 11, and Congress is currently negotiating a broad spending package. IHA is working with our state and national partners to ask Congress to attach key hospital priorities, including:
- Adding new money to the Provider Relief Fund and passing the Provider Relief Fund Improvement Act (S. 3611/H.R. 5963), which would extend current reporting and use-of-funds deadlines and provide other flexibilities;
- Allowing additional flexibility for repayment of Medicare Accelerated and Advance Payment Program loans, including a six-month suspension of repayments followed by a reduced recoupment rate for the following 12 months;
- Extending Medicare sequester relief through the end of the public health emergency or calendar year, whichever is later; and
- Protecting 340B Drug Pricing Program eligibility by passing S. 773/H.R. 3203 to ensure hospitals experiencing changes in their payer mix during the pandemic can maintain program eligibility.
A recent IHA issue brief highlighting why hospitals need financial relief is here. IHA’s Jan. 10 letter to the delegation outlining additional legislative priorities is here.