Nebraska lawmaker voices support for permanent COVID-19-era flexibilities聽
More than 1,000 executive leaders from the nation鈥檚 top hospitals and health systems convened at the 2023 AHA Annual Membership Meeting, April 23-25 in Washington, D.C.
Rep. Adrian Smith, R-Neb., told attendees he supports making permanent some flexibilities initiated during the COVID-19 pandemic that have improved the nation鈥檚 health care system.
鈥淭he world did not come to an end when there were some flexibilities, whether it was in the training for a certified nurse's aide or other aspects of the flexibilities,鈥 Smith said. 鈥淪o, let's make these permanent where and when appropriate, and leave room for even more innovation moving forward.鈥
Smith, a member of the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Health, expressed dissatisfaction with the 96-hour rule, saying it neither produces good results nor reflects the unique needs of critical access hospitals in different parts of the country. Smith has introduced AHA-supported legislation that would repeal the 96-hour rule.
For more on the 2023 AHA Annual Meeting, read AHA's coverage.