Health Care Advocate: Nov. 30, 2023

Table of Contents AHA Says Medicare Advantage Plans Aren’t Adhering to 2024 Rules The American Hospital Association is pushing Medicare to make sure that Medicare Advantage (MA) plans adhere to federal rules for calendar year 2024, sending a letter to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) highlighting certain MA plan policies that AHA believes run afoul of the…

Health Care Advocate: Nov. 16, 2023

Table of Contents Hospitals Exempt as Immigration Bill Heads to Governor’s Desk An immigration enforcement measure with a key THA-driven exemption for hospitals passed the Texas House of Representatives on Tuesday, sending Senate Bill 4 to Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk. The bill by Sen. Charles Perry (R-Lubbock) gives local and state law enforcement the ability to arrest and detain foreign…

Health Care Advocate: Nov. 9, 2023

Table of Contents New Immigration Arrest Bill Includes Hospital Exemption After the third special session of the Texas Legislature adjourned without a deal on an immigration enforcement bill, Gov. Greg Abbott quickly called a fourth special session this week that included a directive to address the same issue. THA – which fought for hospitals to be exempt from the previous…

Health Care Advocate: Nov. 2, 2023

Table of Contents THA Joins in AHA’s Suit Over Unlawful Federal Privacy Rule Joined by THA, the American Hospital Association sued the federal Office for Civil Rights (OCR) today over a rule that AHA says “severely restricts hospitals’ ability to rely on common third-party technologies that they use to analyze their websites and communicate reliable, accurate health information to the…

Health Care Advocate: Oct. 26, 2023

Table of Contents House Amends COVID Vaccine Mandate Ban, Increases Penalty The Texas House of Representatives on Wednesday passed the hospital-qualified ban on COVID-19 vaccine mandates for businesses, but with amendments that would significantly increase penalties for violations and also include medical students among employees who can’t be forced to receive the vaccine. The amendments mean Senate Bill 7 by…

Health Care Advocate: Oct. 19, 2023

Table of Contents Hospital Safeguard in Proposed COVID Vaccine Mandate Ban With THA working diligently to qualify a bill banning employer COVID-19 vaccine mandates, the House Committee on State Affairs advanced Senate Bill 7 today, sending it to the House floor for a likely vote next week that could send it to the governor’s desk. SB 7 by Rep. Mayes…

Health Care Advocate: Oct. 12, 2023

Table of Contents THA Seeks Hospital Safeguards in COVID Vaccine Mandate Ban During a whirlwind week of maneuvering in the Texas Legislature’s third special session of 2023, THA sought to mitigate the impact of a potential ban on COVID-19 vaccine mandates for hospitals. Senate Bill 7 by Sen. Mayes Middleton (R-Galveston), filed Monday, would prohibit any employer, including hospitals, from…

Health Care Advocate: Oct. 5, 2023

Table of Contents Medicaid Cuts Staved Off in Congressional Funding Deal A surprise short-term deal in Congress last weekend to fund the federal government – and prevent a shutdown – included a delay of the Medicaid disproportionate share hospital (DSH) cuts that THA has been advocating against for months. The spending agreement keeps the government operational through Nov. 17 and…

Health Care Advocate: Sept. 28, 2023

Table of Contents Medicaid Cut Delay Part of Senate Bid to Avoid Shutdown With a federal government shutdown looming this Sunday, the U.S. Senate is considering a temporary government funding measure that includes one of THA’s top current federal priorities – avoiding billions in cuts to Medicaid disproportionate share hospital (DSH) funding over the next two fiscal years. A bipartisan…

Health Care Advocate: Sept. 14, 2023

Table of Contents THA Opposes Budget Neutrality Move in 340B Proposal In a letter submitted to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) last week, THA echoed the sentiments of the American Hospital Association in support of proposed 340B lump-sum payment remedies – but staunchly opposed the “budget neutrality adjustment” included in the rulemaking, which would generate estimated losses…