WASHINGTON—A letter from American Hospital Association (AHA) President and CEO Rich Umbdenstock today was sent to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) offering the association's support for the final health care reform package unveiled earlier this week. The letter was sent after extensive consultation with our state, regional and metropolitan association partners, regional policy boards, constituency section governing councils, Advisory Committee on Health Reform and the AHA Board of Trustees.
In the letter, the AHA applauds the historic steps the legislation will take toward expanding health coverage and acknowledges the hospital field's significant contribution toward financing the coverage expansion as part of all stakeholders' shared responsibility. However, it cautions that the "impact of these reductions, and other policies contained in the legislation, must be closely monitored to ensure that hospitals are able to continue providing access to high-quality services that are essential to the patients we serve and the communities that depend on us every single hour of every single day." The AHA also expects to work with Congress in making refinements to the legislation, which will be "inevitable given the scope of any reform of this magnitude."
The House is scheduled to vote on the package—a combination of the Senate's health reform bill, the "Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act" (H.R. 3590), and a separate "sidecar" bill amending H.R. 3590 to reflect changes sought by the President and House leaders—on Sunday. The Senate is then expected to take up the "sidecar" bill next week.
—American Hospital Association, March 20, 2010
Obama rallies Dems: 'We're 24 hours away' from health reform
WASHINGTON—Democrats are mere hours away from passing comprehensive health reform legislation, President Barack Obama said Saturday.
In a speech to the House Democratic Caucus this weekend ahead of a momentous health care vote expected Sunday, the president acknowledged the tough vote tomorrow for Democratic lawmakers, but sought to appeal to their reasons for having come to Congress in the first place.
"We're 24 hours away," Obama told House Democrats to cheers in a televised caucus meeting that often resembled a pep rally for health reform.
And after a hectic Saturday afternoon which saw shifting votes and strategies for their health care bill, the president framed tomorrow's vote as an opportunity to act on behalf of the Americans. Read more.
— The Hill, March 20, 2010
Nebraska Medical Center CEO presented with PAC award
LINCOLN—The American Hospital Association (AHA) annually recognizes an individual from Nebraska as the AHAPAC’s Most Valuable PAC Player. The award recognizes individuals within each state hospital association who have participated in PAC fundraising beyond merely writing a check. The award is for those who have worked hard amongst their peers and/or individual hospital communities to spread the word and increase the intensity of political advocacy on behalf of the entire hospital community.
The 2009 Most Valuable PAC Player award was presented to Glenn Fosdick, CEO and President of The Nebraska Medical Center, during the 2010 NHA Advocacy Day on March 9. The NHA congratulates Fosdick for his hard work and dedication in helping to raise money for lawmakers who will advocate on behalf of Nebraska hospitals during critical health care debates in Washington, DC.
The official 2010 NHA PAC fundraising campaign begins in June. For more information on the NHA PAC, including general campaign information, materials and updated information about hospital-specific goals, members should contact Kelley Porter at the NHA or visit the NHA PAC Web page.
More funding sources sought for economic development
Click here to read this article and more.
Nebraska ranks third in fiscal fitness Click here to view the full report.
