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The AHA today urged Congress to include in year-end legislation a number of policies that impact hospitals and health systems and the patients they serve. In a letter, AHA Executive Vice President Tom Nickels urged House and Senate leaders to include policies that would extend funding for the Children's Health Insurance Program for five years; eliminate reductions in fiscal years 2018 and 2019 to Medicaid payments for disproportionate share hospitals; waive PAY-GO to avert Medicare cuts of $25 billion in 2018 and for many years thereafter; prevent cuts to the 340B drug savings program; and extend critical rural programs. In addition, AHA urged Congress to oppose any policies that reduce payments to hospitals and health systems, including a proposed hospice transfer policy that would result in reductions to hospital reimbursement.