/ en Thu, 07 Aug 2025 17:06:23 -0500 Tue, 01 Jul 25 09:30:00 -0500 /special-bulletin/2025-07-01-senator-scotts-amendment-withdrawn-senate-vote <div class="container"><div class="row"><div class="col-md-8"><p>Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., has withdrawn his amendment to the Senate’s budget reconciliation bill. This withdrawal comes after a vigorous advocacy campaign by the AHA, with the great assistance of our members, to urge senators to vote no on the amendment. Thanks to our unified effort, this harmful policy will not be included in the Senate’s version of the budget reconciliation bill.</p><p>The amendment would have required, in expansion states, that any Medicaid beneficiary who temporarily loses coverage and reapplies would be enrolled at the traditional Medicaid Federal Medical Assistance Percentage. In addition, the amendment would have required that only Medicaid expansion enrollees who were “grandfathered” (those enrolled as of Dec. 31, 2030) could receive the enhanced match. <a href="/fact-sheets/2025-06-29-estimated-impact-fmap-reduction-90-traditional-result-churn-federal-medicaid-hospital-spending">AHA analysis</a> showed that the impact of the amendment would have been a reduction of Medicaid payments to hospitals by $99.2 billion over five years.</p><p>The Senate is finishing the reconciliation process vote-a-rama, where unlimited amendments can be presented prior to the final vote. There will also be a process for a final amendment that could provide the opportunity for additional changes. The Senate bill will be sent back to the House for their final vote.</p><p>The AHA continues to monitor the progress of the budget reconciliation process and will provide members with critical updates.</p><h2>Further Questions</h2><p>If you have further questions, please contact AHA at <a href="tel:1-800-424-4301">800-424-4301</a>.</p></div><div class="col-md-4"><p><a href="/system/files/media/file/2025/07/Special-Bulletin-Senator-Scotts-Amendment-Withdrawn-from-Senate-Vote.pdf" target="_blank" title="Click here to download the Special Bulletin: Senator Scott’s Amendment Withdrawn from Senate Vote PDF."><img src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/Special-Bulletin-Senator-Scotts-Amendment-Withdrawn-from-Senate-Vote.png" data-entity-uuid="089c23c5-d875-45ad-b8b5-9a4accf80210" data-entity-type="file" width="698" height="900"></a></p></div></div></div> Tue, 01 Jul 2025 09:30:00 -0500 Special Bulletin /special-bulletin/2025-06-29-aha-urges-senate-amend-budget-reconciliation-bill-final-passage <div class="container"><div class="row"><div class="col-md-8"><p>The AHA today sent <a href="/lettercomment/2025-06-29-aha-urges-senate-amend-budget-reconciliation-bill-protect-access-care">senators a letter</a> urging them to amend its budget reconciliation bill before its final passage in the Senate. The Senate version of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) proposes even greater cuts to the Medicaid program than the House-passed version.</p><p>AHA President and CEO Rick Pollack said in the letter, “The magnitude of nearly a trillion-dollar reduction to the Medicaid program cannot be characterized solely as waste, fraud and abuse. The real-life consequences of these reductions will result in irreparable harm to access to care for all Americans and undermine the ability of hospitals and health systems to care for our most vulnerable patients.”</p><p>The reconciliation process is underway in the Senate with up to 20 hours of debate followed by unlimited amendments prior to the final vote. There will also be a process for a final amendment that could provide the opportunity for additional changes. The Senate bill will be sent back to the House for their final vote. See <a href="/action-alert/2025-06-28-time-act-now-contact-senate-and-house-lawmakers-today">AHA’s Action Alert</a> for more details.</p><h2>Further Questions</h2><p>If you have further questions, please contact AHA at <a href="tel:1-800-424-4301">800-424-4301</a>.</p></div><div class="col-md-4"><p><a href="/system/files/media/file/2025/06/aha-urges-senate-to-amend-budget-reconciliation-bill-before-final-passage-bulletin-6-29-2025-f.pdf" target="_blank" title="Click here to download the Special Bulletin: AHA Urges Senate to Amend Budget Reconciliation Bill Before Final Passage PDF."><img src="/sites/default/files/2025-06/cover-aha-urges-senate-to-amend-budget-reconciliation-bill-before-final-passage-bulletin-6-29-2025-f.png" alt="Special Bulletin: AHA Urges Senate to Amend Budget Reconciliation Bill Before Final Passage" width="640" height="834"></a></p></div></div></div> Sun, 29 Jun 2025 19:55:59 -0500 Special Bulletin /special-bulletin/2025-06-26-senate-parliamentarian-continues-reviewing-reconciliation-bill-compliance-byrd-rule <div class="container"><div class="row"><div class="col-md-8"><p>The Senate parliamentarian today said several health care provisions in the Senate budget reconciliation bill, including one on Medicaid provider taxes, violate the Byrd Rule and would be subject to a 60-vote threshold if they were included in the reconciliation bill as written.</p><p><strong>However, the process remains extremely fluid. Senate Republicans are currently working on alternative language for some of these provisions to remedy concerns raised by the parliamentarian. Senate leaders are prepared to stay throughout the weekend to pass the reconciliation bill. Watch for more updates from the AHA as this process continues.</strong></p><p>In addition to the Senate language restricting the use of Medicaid provider taxes, other provisions the parliamentarian said violated the Byrd Rule were:</p><ul><li>Lowering the Medicaid expansion federal medical assistance percentage from 90% to 80% for states that cover undocumented immigrants with state funds.</li><li>Restricting eligibility for Medicare, Medicaid and premium tax credits for marketplace coverage for non-citizens.</li><li>Funding cost-sharing reduction payments to insurers in Health Insurance Marketplaces.</li></ul><p>More information on these and other parliamentarian rulings – as well as provisions still awaiting a decision – were detailed in a <a href="https://www.budget.senate.gov/ranking-member/newsroom/press/byrd-rule-violations-continue-to-mount-on-the-republicans-one-big-beautiful-bill">memo</a> from Democrats on the Senate Budget Committee.</p><h2>About Reconciliation</h2><p><a href="/fact-sheets/2025-02-07-fact-sheet-budget-reconciliation-101">Reconciliation legislation</a> is privileged and cannot be filibustered in the Senate, meaning it requires only a simple majority, instead of a three-fifths majority, to pass. The contents of a reconciliation bill are tightly controlled because the process restricts the Senate’s right to unlimited debate that exists for most other legislation. The Senate’s Byrd Rule aims to prevent the inclusion of matter considered “extraneous” to the budgetary goals of the legislation.</p><h2>Further Questions</h2><p>Visit the <a href="/advocacy/action-center">AHA Action Center</a> for more resources on these issues and other priorities important to hospitals and health systems. If you have further questions, please contact the AHA at 800-424-4301. </p></div><div class="col-md-4"><a href="/system/files/media/file/2025/06/senate-parliamentarian-continues-reviewing-reconciliation-bill-for-compliance-with-byrd-rule-bulletin-6-26-2025.pdf"><img src="/sites/default/files/2025-06/cover-senate-parliamentarian-continues-reviewing-reconciliation-bill-for-compliance-with-byrd-rule-bulletin-6-26-2025.png" data-entity-uuid data-entity-type="file" alt="Special Bulletin: Senate Parliamentarian Continues Reviewing Reconciliation Bill for Compliance with ‘Byrd Rule’ Cover" width="NaN" height="NaN"></a></div></div></div> Thu, 26 Jun 2025 10:26:36 -0500 Special Bulletin /special-bulletin/2025-06-24-register-special-june-24-aha-all-member-call-ahead-possible-senate-vote-week-reconciliation-bill <div class="container"><div class="row"><div class="col-md-8"><p>The Senate draft budget reconciliation bill is expected to be introduced and considered for a vote as early as the middle of this week. As the AHA has <a href="/advisory/2025-06-16-senate-finance-committee-releases-legislative-text-reconciliation-bill">shared previously</a>, the Senate version of the budget reconciliation bill proposes even greater cuts to the Medicaid program, among other provisions, than the House bill.</p><p><strong>Please join AHA President and CEO Rick Pollack, Executive Vice President of Government Relations and Public Policy Stacey Hughes, and other AHA leaders for a member-only call June 24 at 5 p.m. ET. </strong><a href="https://www.directrsvp.com/DirectRSVP/WebForms/EventRegistration.aspx?InvCode=fdd20b75-1622-4b33-8198-2ba6457d1743&mkt_tok=NzEwLVpMTC02NTEAAAGbPZ4CttxUBCFgPmITVKPqGq6C3CWl1fM0RKz8YyHjqLmH29i3aIzXhYwN7eryHP6debAB-oJnZkk3jNtMFnKw3iQDClwT2Qx9WafG1kw82tDKP_Fr" target="_blank" title="Special AHA Call on Reconciliation Bill with Medicaid, Other Health Care Changes registration"><strong>Register for the call.</strong></a></p><h2>Action Needed</h2><p><strong>As we shared in our June 20 </strong><a href="/action-alert/2025-06-20-urgent-senate-budget-reconciliation-vote-expected-next-week-contact-senate-and-house-lawmakers-today"><strong>Action Alert</strong></a><strong>,</strong> the Senate could vote this week, sending the bill back to the House before the July 4 recess for a final vote. It is uncertain if the House could pass the Senate version.</p><p><strong>Please contact your senators and representatives today and urge them to protect Medicaid and access to health care and services in your community.</strong> Advocate to your Republican senators to oppose the Senate reconciliation bill as drafted related to provider taxes and state-directed payments. Equally important, tell your Republican House members, who could still have significant influence over the final product, to oppose the current Senate changes to provider taxes and state-directed payments.</p><p><strong>Please see the recent </strong><a href="/action-alert/2025-06-20-urgent-senate-budget-reconciliation-vote-expected-next-week-contact-senate-and-house-lawmakers-today"><strong>AHA Action Alert</strong></a><strong> for more details and resources to assist your advocacy efforts.</strong></p><h2>New AHA TV and Digital Ad</h2><p>The AHA this week is launching a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQTYkTA27qM" target="_blank" title="YouTube: 
Protect Hospital Care">new TV and digital ad</a> urging Congress to protect access to hospital care across the nation as it considers legislation that could have far-ranging negative consequences for patients, communities and hospitals across America.</p><p>The ad highlights how, when every second counts, America’s hospitals and health systems are there 24/7 to care for patients during all of life’s moments. “People count on us; now we’re counting on you,” the ad says. “Congress: Protect hospital care.”</p><p>The campaign includes a TV ad that will run on broadcast and cable TV in Washington, D.C., as well as digital ads.</p><h2>Further Questions</h2><p>If you have further questions, please contact AHA at 800-424-4301.</p></div></div></div> Tue, 24 Jun 2025 09:17:23 -0500 Special Bulletin /special-bulletin/2025-06-11-register-june-17-aha-advocacy-day <div class="container"><div class="row"><div class="col-md-8"><p>As the next step in the budget reconciliation process, the Senate has taken up the House-passed budget reconciliation bill (H.R. 1), and it is considering further cuts and changes to Medicaid and other health care programs. The House version of the bill contains <a href="/advisory/2025-05-22-aha-summary-one-big-beautiful-bill-acts-provisions-impacting-hospitals-and-health-systems" title="House version of the bill">provisions</a> that could lead to millions of people losing Medicaid coverage.</p><p>The Senate is currently reviewing H.R. 1, and draft text from the Senate Finance Committee, which has jurisdiction over taxes and Medicaid, could come as soon as this week. <strong>See our </strong><a href="/action-alert/2025-06-08-act-now-ask-your-senators-protect-medicaid-payment-rates-reconciliation-package" title="June 8 Action Alert"><strong>June 8 Action Alert</strong></a><strong> for more information about proposals under consideration related to state-directed payments and provider taxes, and our </strong><a href="/action-alert/2025-06-05-act-now-ask-your-senators-protect-medicaid-and-access-care"><strong>June 5 Action Alert</strong></a><strong> for additional AHA resources on Medicaid and other programs at risk.</strong></p><h2>REGISTER FOR JUNE 17 ADVOCACY DAY IN DC OR PARTICIPATE VIRTUALLY</h2><p>AHA President and CEO Rick Pollack, Executive Vice President Stacey Hughes and other AHA leaders will provide a briefing June 17 on the current congressional landscape and share key messages for leaders to send to legislators on Capitol Hill. You can still register to attend <a href="https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=QJMRube-Xk6EsjzBj3s2pnUzMzymJWtHjxrQd2BoFRpUNDNVUkdGWjYyRlJJTUNUVU8wWjVBNTRNWC4u&route=shorturl" title="Registration Page">in person</a>.</p><p><strong>If you cannot make it to Washington, D.C., you can watch the briefing online beginning at 10 a.m. ET. Please register for the </strong><a href="https://aha-advocacy.ispresenting.live/register" title="Registration Page for Virtual attendance"><strong>virtual session</strong></a><strong>. You must register in advance to participate in the briefing. This event is for AHA members only.</strong></p><h2>FURTHER QUESTIONS</h2><p>If you have further questions, please contact AHA at 800-424-4301.</p></div><div class="col-md-4"><a href="Register for June 17 AHA Advocacy Day"><img src="/sites/default/files/2025-06/cover-register-for-june-17-aha-advocacy-day-bulletin-6-11-2025.png" data-entity-uuid data-entity-type="file" alt="Special Bulletin: Register for June 17 AHA Advocacy DayCover" width="NaN" height="NaN"></a></div></div></div> Wed, 11 Jun 2025 14:07:56 -0500 Special Bulletin /special-bulletin/2025-05-29-register-june-17-aha-advocacy-day-washington-dc <div class="container"><div class="row"><div class="col-md-8"><p>The House of Representatives May 22 passed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1), a sweeping package that would enact many of President Trump’s legislative priorities on taxes, border security, energy and deficit reduction. The bill, which Republicans are attempting to pass through reconciliation — a budget tool that gives Congress a fast-track mechanism to avoid the Senate filibuster and pass legislation with a simple majority — includes significant policy changes to Medicaid and the Health Insurance Marketplaces that will jeopardize access to care for communities.</p><p>The action now moves to the Senate, which is expected to make changes to the bill. As the Senate considers the bill in the coming weeks, it is critical for hospital and health system leaders to stay informed and engaged to protect Medicaid and other health care programs from devastating policy changes.</p><p><strong>Hospital and health system leaders can </strong><a href="https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=QJMRube-Xk6EsjzBj3s2pnUzMzymJWtHjxrQd2BoFRpUNDNVUkdGWjYyRlJJTUNUVU8wWjVBNTRNWC4u&route=shorturl"><strong>register</strong></a><strong> for a June 17 AHA Advocacy Day event in Washington, D.C.</strong> AHA President and CEO Rick Pollack, Executive Vice President Stacey Hughes, and other AHA leaders will provide a briefing on the current congressional landscape and share key messages to share with representatives and senators on Capitol Hill. <strong>This event is for AHA members only.</strong></p><p><strong>Watch for an Action Alert from the AHA soon detailing key messages and new resources to use in your advocacy efforts.</strong></p><h2>Medicaid Resources</h2><p>Visit the <a href="/advocacy-issues">AHA Medicaid Issues</a> page for a complete list of tools and resources including:</p><ul><li><a href="/advocacy/advocacy-issues/medicaid">Fact Sheets and Infographics</a>. The AHA has developed a series of fact sheets and infographics to inform your advocacy efforts.</li><li><a href="https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1b2YQHHn4dAfbSe_Gxy-QsxY7Uwo2Qtlq">Digital Toolkit</a>. Use this toolkit to engage stakeholders, such as your hospital or health system teams and community leaders, in joining the fight to protect Medicaid.</li><li><a href="https://youtu.be/wWHMwW8CcWk?si=vGLEa9fyODr2WA6l">Medicaid Made Simple Video</a>. This video explains how vital Medicaid is to your communities.</li></ul><h2>Further Questions</h2><p>Visit the <a href="/advocacy/action-center">AHA Action Center</a> for more resources on these issues and other priorities important to hospitals and health systems. If you have further questions, please contact the AHA at 800-424-4301.</p></div><div class="col-md-4"><a href="/system/files/media/file/2025/05/register-for-june-17-aha-advocacy-day-in-washington-dc-bulletin-5-29-25.pdf"><img src="/sites/default/files/2025-05/cover-register-for-june-17-aha-advocacy-day-in-washington-dc-bulletin-5-29-25.png" data-entity-uuid data-entity-type="file" alt="Special Bulletin: Register for June 17 AHA Advocacy Day in Washington, D.C. Cover" width="NaN" height="NaN"></a></div></div></div> Thu, 29 May 2025 08:36:03 -0500 Special Bulletin /special-bulletin/2025-05-22-house-passes-reconciliation-bill-significant-policy-changes-and-reductions-medicaid-other-health <div class="container"><div class="row"><div class="col-md-8"><p>The House of Representatives May 22 passed by a 215-214 vote H.R. 1, the <a href="https://rules.house.gov/sites/evo-subsites/rules.house.gov/files/documents/rcp_119-3_final.pdf" target="_blank">One Big Beautiful Bill Act</a>, a sweeping package that would enact many of President Trump’s legislative priorities on taxes, border security, energy and deficit reduction. The bill, which Republicans are attempting to pass through reconciliation — a <a href="/issue-landing-page/2025-02-07-budget-reconciliation-process-resource-page">budget tool</a> that gives Congress a fast-track mechanism to avoid the Senate filibuster and pass legislation with a simple majority — includes significant policy changes to Medicaid and the Health Insurance Marketplaces that will jeopardize access to care for communities. The action now moves to the Senate, which is expected to make changes to the bill.</p><p>This Special Bulletin includes several updates and resources related to the bill, including:</p><ul><li><strong>Changes Made to the Bill.</strong> The House late yesterday made several <a href="https://amendments-rules.house.gov/amendments/RCP_119-3_Managers_xml (002)250521201648156.pdf?_gl=1*1jziwmj*_ga*MTIyNTg0MjE4Ny4xNjg5MTcxMjMz*_ga_N4RTJ5D08B*czE3NDc5MTgyNDIkbzEkZzEkdDE3NDc5MTg1MTYkajAkbDAkaDA" target="_blank">changes</a> to the bill before its passage. See some of the changes below and watch for an updated Legislative Advisory with a summary of provisions included in the bill.</li><li><strong>AHA Statement Submitted to Congressional Offices.</strong> The AHA, prior to the House vote, shared a <a href="g/press-releases/2025-05-21-aha-statement-house-reconciliation-legislation">statement</a> from AHA President and CEO Rick Pollack with congressional offices and the media.</li><li><strong>Advocacy Resources.</strong> The AHA has many resources that hospital and health system leaders can use as part of their advocacy efforts as attention turns to the Senate.</li></ul><h2>Changes to the Bill</h2><p>The House made several changes to the bill, including provisions that would affect Medicaid and the Health Insurance Marketplaces. Some of the changes include:</p><p>Watch for an updated Legislative Advisory for a detailed summary of provisions that affect hospitals and health systems.</p><h2>AHA Statement Shared with Congressional Offices and Media</h2><p>Prior to the House voting on the bill, AHA shared the following <a href="/press-releases/2025-05-21-aha-statement-house-reconciliation-legislation">statement</a> from AHA President and CEO Rick Pollack with congressional offices and the media.</p><p>“On behalf of our nearly 5,000 member hospitals, health systems and other health care organizations, our clinician partners — including more than 270,000 affiliated physicians, 2 million nurses and other caregivers — and the 43,000 health care leaders who belong to our professional membership groups, the ���������� Association (AHA) is sharing our concerns about the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) that is being considered on the House floor this week.</p><p>“Our hospitals and health systems have significant concerns regarding the harmful Medicaid and Health Insurance Marketplace provisions currently included in the bill. The sheer magnitude of the level of reductions to the Medicaid program alone will impact all patients, not just Medicaid beneficiaries, in every community across the nation. Hospitals — especially in rural and underserved areas — will be forced to make difficult decisions about whether they will have to reduce services, reduce staff and potentially consider closing their doors. Other impacts could include longer waiting times to receive care, more crowded emergency departments, and hospitals not being able to invest in technology and innovations for clinical care.</p><p>“In particular, the Medicaid legislative proposals severely restrict the use of legitimate state funding resources and supplemental payment programs, including provider taxes and state directed payments, under the guise of eliminating waste, fraud and abuse. We reject this notion as these critical, legitimate and well-established Medicaid financing programs are essential to offset decades of chronic underpayments of the cost of care provided to Medicaid patients. These new policies are estimated to decimate federal support for the Medicaid program by more than $700 billion over 10 years and will displace health care coverage for millions of Americans, moving them from insured to uninsured status.</p><p>“In addition to jeopardizing access to patient care and services, these abrupt policy changes would upend state government budgets and threaten the viability of the health care system to provide essential services to this population. Since these changes are effective immediately upon enactment of the legislation, states will have little or no time to prepare for the significant financial impact on state budgets.</p><p>“Given the substantial reduction in Medicaid payments and cuts to the Health Insurance Marketplaces, including allowing the enhanced premium tax credits to expire, millions will lose health care coverage. Therefore, the AHA urges the House to reject efforts to dismantle these vital programs in the OBBBA and preserve health care access for our nation’s vulnerable and working families.”</p><h2>Advocacy Resources and Engage Your Senators</h2><p>After the House passage of the bill, attention now shifts to the Senate, which is expected to consider changes to the bill. Hospital and health system leaders are encouraged to use the upcoming Memorial Day recess to contact their senators and urge them to reject harmful provisions that would jeopardize access to coverage and care for millions of Americans across the country.</p><p>As you tell the story about what the bill’s impact would mean for your patients and communities and your organization’s ability to provide 24/7 care and services, please use the following AHA resources to assist your efforts.</p><ul><li><strong>Digital Toolkit.</strong> Use this toolkit to engage stakeholders, such as your hospital or health system teams and community leaders, in joining the fight to protect Medicaid. The <a href="/advocacy/advocacy-issues/medicaid">toolkit</a> includes a Medicaid Made Simple video, sample social media posts, stakeholder messages and newsletter copy.</li><li><strong>Fact Sheets and Infographics.</strong> The AHA has developed a series of fact sheets and infographics to inform your advocacy efforts. Visit the <a href="/advocacy/advocacy-issues/medicaid">Medicaid Advocacy Issue</a> page.</li><li><strong>Coalition to Strengthen America’s Health Care Resources.</strong> The <a href="https://strengthenhealthcare.org/" target="_blank">Coalition to Strengthen America’s Healthcare</a>, of which the AHA is a founding member, has many digital resources and tools that can assist your advocacy efforts.</li></ul><h2>Further Questions</h2><p>Visit the <a href="g/advocacy/action-center">AHA Action Center</a> for more resources on these issues and other priorities important to hospitals and health systems. If you have further questions, please contact the AHA at <a href="tel:1-800-424-4301">800-424-4301</a>.</p></div><div class="col-md-4"><a href="/system/files/media/file/2025/05/SB-House-Passes-Reconciliation-Bill-with-Significant-Policy-Changes-and-Reductions-to-Medicaid-Other-Health-Care-Programs.pdf"><img src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/Page-1-SB-House-Passes-Reconciliation-Bill-with-Significant-Policy-Changes-and-Reductions-to-Medicaid-Other-Health-Care-Programs.png" data-entity-uuid="6b4a4438-2190-4839-b61f-e7b9d51060e8" data-entity-type="file" alt="Special Bulletin: House Passes Reconciliation Bill with Significant Policy Changes and Reductions to Medicaid, Other Health Care Programs page 1." width="695" height="900"></a></div></div></div> Thu, 22 May 2025 12:31:14 -0500 Special Bulletin /2025-05-02-white-house-releases-skinny-budget-request-fiscal-year-2026 <div class="container"><div classs="row"><div class="col-md-8"><p>President Trump today released <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Fiscal-Year-2026-Discretionary-Budget-Request.pdf" target="_blank" title="discretionary spending budget blueprint">his discretionary spending budget blueprint</a> for fiscal year (FY) 2026. The “skinny budget” request, which includes top line discretionary funding priorities, is not binding but can act as a starting point for Congress and the administration as they begin the appropriations process to fund the government. The administration later this month is expected to issue its full budget request, which will include its proposed changes to mandatory spending and tax policy.</p><p>Highlights of some of the provisions affecting hospitals and health systems follow.</p><h2>DISCRETIONARY BUDGET PROPOSALS THAT COULD IMPACT HOSPITALS AND HEALTH SYSTEMS</h2><p><strong>Department of Health and Human Services (HHS):</strong> The budget proposes $93.8 billion for HHS, which is a 26.2% reduction from the FY 25 enacted level.</p><p><strong>Make America Health Again (MAHA)</strong>: The budget proposes $500 million for the MAHA initiative. The administration says this funding will allow the HHS secretary to tackle nutrition, physical activity, healthy lifestyles, over-reliance on medication and treatments, the effects of new technological habits, environmental impacts, and food and drug quality and safety across HHS.</p><p><strong>Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA):</strong> The budget proposes to reduce funding by $1.73 billion and consolidate a variety of programs that were formerly part of HRSA. Based on the high-level details provided, the administration proposes cuts to maternal and child health programs ($274 million) and workforce programs ($1 billion reduction). The budget proposes to maintain $6 billion for priority activities that were formerly part of HRSA.</p><p><strong>Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)</strong>: The budget proposes to reduce CDC funding by $3.6 billion and refocus the agency’s mission on core activities such as emerging and infectious disease surveillance and maintaining the nation’s public health infrastructure, while eliminating or streamlining programs the administration identifies as waste. The budget proposes maintaining more than $4 billion in funding for CDC.</p><p><strong>National Institute of Health (NIH):</strong> The budget proposes to reduce funding by $18 billion to reform and refocus NIH research activities in line with the president’s commitment to MAHA, including consolidating programs into five new focus areas: The National Institute on Body Systems Research; National Institute on Neuroscience and Brain Research; National Institute of General Medical Sciences; National Institute of Disability Related Research; and National Institute on Behavioral Health. The budget also proposes to eliminate funding for the National Institute of Minority and Health Disparities. The budget also retains the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H). It proposes to maintain $27 billion in funding for NIH research.</p><p><strong>Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA):</strong> The budget would reduce SAMHSA funding by $1.1 billion and proposes several reductions to grants that the administration believes are duplicative or too small to have a national impact. The budget would maintain $5.7 billion for activities that were formerly part of SAMHSA.</p><p><strong>Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS):</strong> The budget proposes a reduction of $674 million to eliminate funding the administration believes has been used to carry out non-statutory and wasteful activities and support projects, while maintaining funding for core Medicare and Medicaid operations. It would eliminate health-equity focused activities.</p><p><strong>Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR):</strong> The budget proposes to eliminate funding for the Hospital Preparedness Program ($240 million). The budget proposes allowing states and territories to scope and fund hospital preparedness.</p><p><strong>Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ):</strong> The budget proposes reducing funding by $129 million to eliminate what the administration believes is duplicative and wasteful grants and contracts. AHRQ also would end new grants and offload contracts and interagency agreements outside of core statistical activities. The proposal also reflects that AHRQ functions have been reorganized and integrated into the new HHS Office of Strategy.</p><h2>FURTHER QUESTIONS</h2><p>If you have further questions, please contact AHA at 800-424-4301.</p></div><div class="col-md-4"><p><a href="/system/files/media/file/2025/05/white-house-releases-skinny-budget-request-for-fiscal-year-2026-bulletin-5-2-2025.pdf" target="_blank" title="Click here to download the Special Bulletin: Senate Passes Revised Budget Resolution PDF"><img src="/sites/default/files/2025-05/cover-white-house-releases-skinny-budget-request-for-fiscal-year-2026-bulletin-5-2-2025.png" data-entity-uuid data-entity-type="file" alt="Cover Special Bulletin: White House Releases ‘Skinny Budget’ Request for Fiscal Year 2026." width="690" height="892"></a></p></div></div></div> Fri, 02 May 2025 13:29:34 -0500 Special Bulletin /special-bulletin/2025-04-05-senate-passes-revised-budget-resolution <div class="container"><div classs="row"><div class="col-md-8"><p>Early this morning, the Senate by a vote of 51 to 48 passed its <a href="https://www.budget.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/senate_amendment_h_con_res_14.pdf" target="_blank" title="Senate.gov: H.Con.Res.14">revised budget resolution</a> for fiscal year 2025 with Sens. Rand Paul, R-Ky., and Susan Collins, R-Maine, voting with Democrats in opposition.</p><p>During the six-hour “vote-a-rama session,” Sen. Ron Wyden, R-Ore., offered an amendment to strike the instructions for the House Energy & Commerce Committee to cut spending by $880 billion, citing his concerns around potential cuts to the Medicaid program. The amendment was not agreed to by a vote of 49-50. Three Republicans, Sens. Collins, Josh Hawley, R-Mo., and Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, voted in favor of the amendment along with Senate Democrats.</p><p>The House is expected to consider the revised resolution next week. This marks the next step toward reaching a common budget resolution that will allow Congress to move forward with the <a href="/issue-landing-page/2025-02-07-budget-reconciliation-process-resource-page">reconciliation process</a>.</p><p>The resolution is drafted to provide flexibility to Senate and House Committees when they begin drafting their individual bills. As is customary, the budget resolution does not provide details on potential cuts to Medicaid or Medicare, as well as the extension of the Enhanced Premium Tax Credits (EPTCs).</p><h2>Key Highlights of the Budget Resolution</h2><h3>Debt Ceiling</h3><p>The resolution includes instructions to allow Congress to increase the debt limit. The House Ways & Means Committee instruction is $4 trillion, and the Senate Finance Committee’s is $5 trillion.</p><h3>Tax Policy</h3><p>The resolution assumes a budget mechanism called “current policy baseline” to set up a pathway toward making the tax cuts within the Tax Cuts & Jobs Act (TCJA) permanent.</p><h3>Preserves House Instructions</h3><ul><li>The House Ways & Means Committee is instructed to increase deficits by not more than $4.5 trillion (TCJA extension).</li><li>The House Energy and Commerce Committee is instructed to reduce deficits by not less than $880 billion. The Energy and Commerce Committee has primary jurisdiction over Medicaid and other health care programs.</li><li>The resolution reflects the desire of the House-passed budget resolution to reach $2 trillion in spending cuts.</li></ul><h3>Adds Senate Health Committee Instructions</h3><ul><li>The Senate Finance Committee is instructed to increase deficits by not more than $1.5 trillion (TCJA extension and other tax policy).</li><li>The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee is instructed to reduce deficits by not less than $1 billion. This is a change from the Senate’s original previous budget resolution. The HELP Committee has jurisdiction over measures relating to education, labor, health and public welfare.</li></ul><h3>Deadline for Committees</h3><p>The budget resolution gives Senate and House committees a May 9 deadline to report legislation, but this is not a binding deadline.</p><h2>Next Steps</h2><p>The resolution now moves to the House for consideration next week. Congressional leaders hope to complete work on the budget resolution before leaving for their two-week April recess (April 14-25).</p><p>Once both chambers have passed the budget resolution, committees that have received instructions in the budget resolution will begin drafting the reconciliation bill.</p><h2>AHA Take</h2><p>As the Senate and House forge ahead on the fiscal year 2025 budget resolution and reconciliation process, the AHA continues to urge Congress to take seriously the impact of reductions in health care programs, particularly Medicaid. We ask Congress to construct a path forward that protects Medicaid and patients from harmful cuts that would impact access to care for millions of Americans. The AHA will continue to keep the field updated on the latest developments and action needed.</p><h2>Resources on Protecting Medicaid, Other Health Programs</h2><p>The AHA continues to develop and share resources with hospitals and health systems on the importance of protecting Medicaid and other health programs. Please visit our <a href="/advocacy/action-center">Action Center</a> for a host of resources on key advocacy issues. In addition, the Coalition to Strengthen America’s Healthcare, of which the AHA is a founding member, continues to run advertising, share digital resources and engage in grassroots activity on the importance of protecting Medicaid. See the <a href="https://strengthenhealthcare.org/" target="_blank" title="Coalition to Strengthen America's Healthcare homepage">Coalition website</a> for the latest advertising and resources.</p><h2>Further Questions</h2><p>If you have further questions, please contact Rachel Jenkins, AHA senior associate director of federal relations, at <a href="mailto:rjenkins@aha.org?subject=RE: Special Bulletin: Senate Passes Revised Budget Resolution">rjenkins@aha.org</a>.</p></div><div class="col-md-4"><p><a href="/system/files/media/file/2025/04/Special-Bulletin-Senate-Passes-Revised-Budget-Resolution-20250405.pdf" target="_blank" title="Click here to download the Special Bulletin: Senate Passes Revised Budget Resolution PDF"><img src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/Page-1-Special-Bulletin-Senate-Passes-Revised-Budget-Resolution-20250405.png" data-entity-uuid="457fa1ef-79fd-44b7-9ca9-266f7310196e" data-entity-type="file" alt="Special Bulletin: Senate Passes Revised Budget Resolution page 1." width="690" height="900"></a></p></div></div></div> Sat, 05 Apr 2025 10:50:00 -0500 Special Bulletin /2025-04-03-senate-unveils-amendment-house-budget-resolution-vote-expected-week <div class="container"><div class="row"><div class="col-md-8"><p>Senate Budget Committee Chair Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., April 2 released the <a href="https://www.budget.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/senate_amendment_h_con_res_14.pdf?mkt_tok=NzEwLVpMTC02NTEAAAGZl8RTAeR77E_lSejQRLXuYl1AOsKjOdJI0nU2PMfXA8wXmmXVYF7CcZk5tv11NHb3ujccKHrsSVucOEOWX58ycMOSAOS21R7ZAFkGPAKzprtG7Q" target="_blank">Senate's amendment</a> to the House budget resolution for fiscal year 2025. This marks the next step toward reaching a common budget resolution that will allow Congress to move forward with the <a href="/issue-landing-page/2025-02-07-budget-reconciliation-process-resource-page" target="_blank">reconciliation process</a>.  </p><p>The amendment is drafted to provide flexibility to Senate and House Committees when they begin drafting their individual bills. As is customary, the budget resolution does not provide details on potential cuts to Medicaid or Medicare, as well as the extension of the Enhanced Premium Tax Credits (EPTCs).</p><h2>Key Highlights of the Budget Resolution</h2><p><strong>Debt Ceiling:</strong> The resolution includes instructions to allow Congress to increase the debt limit. The House Ways & Means Committee instruction is $4 trillion, and the Senate Finance Committee’s is $5 trillion.</p><p><strong>Tax Policy: </strong>The resolution assumes a budget mechanism called “current policy baseline” to set up a pathway toward making the tax cuts within the Tax Cuts & Jobs Act (TCJA) permanent.</p><p><strong>Preserves House Instructions:</strong></p><ul><li>The House Ways & Means Committee is instructed to increase deficits by not more than $4.5 trillion (TCJA extension).</li><li>The House Energy and Commerce Committee is instructed to reduce deficits by not less than $880 billion. The Energy and Commerce Committee has primary jurisdiction over Medicaid and other health care programs.</li><li>The resolution reflects the desire of the House-passed budget resolution to reach $2 trillion in spending cuts.</li></ul><p><strong>Adds Senate Health Committee Instructions:</strong></p><ul><li>The Senate Finance Committee is instructed to increase deficits by not more than $1.5 trillion (TCJA extension and other tax policy).</li><li>The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee is instructed to reduce deficits by not less than $1 billion. This is a change from the  Senate’s original previous budget resolution. The HELP Committee has jurisdiction over measures relating to education, labor, health and public welfare.</li></ul><p><strong>Deadline for Committees:</strong> The budget resolution gives Senate and House committees a May 9 deadline to report legislation, but this is not a binding deadline.</p><h2>Next Steps</h2><p>The Senate is expected to begin consideration of the budget resolution as soon as tonight. We anticipate the Senate to potentially work into the weekend processing amendments prior to a final vote. Health-related amendments are expected, particularly around Medicaid and EPTCs. We will be monitoring these developments.</p><p>If the revised resolution passes the Senate, it will move to the House for consideration next week. Congressional leaders hope to complete work on the budget resolution before leaving for their two-week April recess (April 14-25).</p><p>Once both chambers have passed the budget resolution, committees that have received instructions in the budget resolution will begin drafting the reconciliation bill.</p><h2>AHA Take</h2><p>As the Senate and House forge ahead on the fiscal year 2025 budget resolution and reconciliation process, the AHA continues to urge Congress to take seriously the impact of reductions in health care programs, particularly Medicaid. We ask Congress to construct a path forward that protects Medicaid and patients from harmful cuts that would impact access to care for millions of Americans. The AHA will continue to keep the field updated on the latest developments and action needed.</p><h2>Resources on Protecting Medicaid, Other Health Programs</h2><p>The AHA continues to develop and share resources with hospitals and health systems on the importance of protecting Medicaid and other health programs. Please visit our <a href="/advocacy/action-center" target="_blank">Action Center</a> for a host of resources on key advocacy issues. In addition, the Coalition to Strengthen America’s Healthcare, of which the AHA is a founding member, continues to run advertising, share digital resources and engage in grassroots activity on the importance of protecting Medicaid. See the Coalition <a href="https://strengthenhealthcare.org/" target="_blank">website</a> for the latest advertising and resources.</p><h2>Further Questions</h2><p>If you have further questions, please contact Rachel Jenkins, AHA senior associate director of federal relations, at <a href="mailto:rjenkins@aha.org">rjenkins@aha.org</a>. </p></div><div class="col-md-4"><a href="/system/files/media/file/2025/04/senate-unveils-amendment-to-house-budget-resolution-with-vote-expected-this-week-bulletin-4-3-2025.pdf"><img src="/sites/default/files/2025-04/cover-senate-unveils-amendment-to-house-budget-resolution-with-vote-expected-this-week-bulletin-4-3-2025.png" data-entity-uuid data-entity-type="file" alt="Special Bulletin Cover Image" width="640" height="833"></a></div></div></div> Thu, 03 Apr 2025 16:02:35 -0500 Special Bulletin