Forty-six days any more Nov. 8 thousands and thousands of People will forged their ballots and train their most sacred proper – the appropriate to vote. That signifies that for the following 46 days legislators and candidates for the Home and Senate will probably be very engaged on the marketing campaign path listening to the highest points affecting their constituents.
We have to make sure the monetary stability of hospitals and well being programs – each within the quick time period and long run – to allow them to proceed to guide efforts to advance well being in America is high of thoughts throughout this election.
For months we have now been sounding the alarm that care suppliers throughout the nation face vital challenges on many fronts without delay. These embody extraordinary stress on the workforce, caring for sicker and extra medically complicated sufferers and managing skyrocketing bills for labor, provides, medicine and gear. All of those elements mix to threaten entry to take care of sufferers.
That’s the reason this 12 months’s mid-term election issues a lot. Our area has a lot of crucial coverage points and choices nonetheless in play on Capitol Hill for this 12 months. We’ve urged lawmakers to:
- lengthen crucial applications for rural communities, such because the low-volume adjustment and the Medicare-dependent hospital applications that are set to run out Sept. 30;
- make COVID-19 emergency waivers everlasting which have led to enhancements in care;
- stop imposition of the PAYGO 4% sequester and inspiring lawmakers and the Administration to as soon as once more droop the two% Medicare sequester;
- consider fee changes below the Medicare fee system;
- advance concepts to stabilize security internet hospitals;
- search an equitable treatment for these hospitals affected by illegal 340B fee cuts in earlier years; and
- maintain industrial well being plans accountable for his or her behaviors that put additional monetary pressure on hospitals and exacerbate workforce pressures.
It’s vitally essential that our elected lawmakers and candidates for workplace perceive the tsunami of challenges that threaten hospitals’ potential to help their communities and supply continued entry to care. We should hold speaking about these challenges and options now to set the stage for potential motion within the all-but-certain lame duck session on the finish of the 12 months, in addition to to assist lay the groundwork for future motion when the brand new Congress convenes in January.
The AHA has created and up to date a helpful set of instruments and sources to help hospitals’ and well being programs’ participation on this essential election. On our “We Care, We Vote” webpage, you’ll find new content material designed to assist hospital leaders navigate interactions with congressional candidates, spotlight advocacy priorities and encourage participation within the electoral course of.
For instance, we offer prompt inquiries to ask candidates about their views on well being care points, present authorized dos and don’ts, and supply a digital toolkit with pattern messages hospital leaders can use to encourage their workers to register to vote.
On high of that, you’ll be able to discover ways to use the digital map for election and voting data for every state. Our We Care, We Vote supplies additionally can be utilized at the side of Worker Voter Week (Sept 26-30) and Voter Training Week (Oct. 3-7). You can too unfold the phrase by sharing our latest Particular Bulletin along with your authorities affairs and communications employees, management group and governance board, in addition to some other employees who assist mobilize neighborhood engagement inside your hospital.
Please use the following 46 days to speak along with your lawmakers and candidates for workplace about how hospitals and well being programs are irreplaceable cornerstones of their communities. And the way it’s crucial that they supply extra federal help so hospitals can succeed of their mission of saving lives, therapeutic communities and advancing well being for all.
