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In a statement and blog post Friday, AHA took issue with a recent Washington Post editorial calling for payment cuts to hospitals and health systems as part of efforts to stabilize the Medicare program.

“We must not attempt to solve our nation’s budget problems on the backs of health care providers and patients,” said AHA President and CEO Rick Pollack. “After years of a once-in-a-lifetime global pandemic where hospitals and health systems treated more than 6 million COVID-19 patients while simultaneously dealing with near historic inflation, rising expenses for drugs, supplies, and labor, and incredible workforce pressures, now is not the time to cut Medicare funding for physician training and support to those caring for our sickest patients. According to the government’s own data, Medicare already chronically underpays providers for caring for patients, and it’s time for policymakers to acknowledge the enormous challenges facing hospitals and health systems today. Our nation cannot consider proposals that could lead to a collapse of our health care system and reduced access to care. There is too much at stake for the patients and communities that depend upon hospitals and health systems to always be there, ready to care.”