Americas Essential Hospitals

SEE PART III, LINE 1.

ADVOCACY: AS THE LEADING NATIONAL ORGANIZATION REPRESENTING ESSENTIAL HOSPITALS--THOSE WITH A SAFETY-NET ROLE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES--AMERICA'S ESSENTIAL HOSPITALS REPRESENTS OUR MEMBERS' PERSPECTIVE BEFORE CONGRESS AND THE ADMINISTRATION ON LEGISLATION AND REGULATIONS PIVOTAL TO ESSENTIAL HOSPITALS' FISCAL VIABILITY AND SUSTAINABILITY. MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN 2021 INCLUDED CONTINUING TO SUPPORT OUR MEMBERS' EFFORTS TO FIGHT THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND SERVE THEIR COMMUNITIES DURING THE PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY. WE ADVOCATED FOR FINANCIAL SUPPORT FROM CONGRESS IN REPLENISHING THE PROVIDER RELIEF FUND. WE LOBBIED FOR CONTINUED FLEXIBILITY FOR HOSPITALS TO PROVIDE MORE TELEHEALTH SERVICES TO CONTINUE TO SAFELY SERVE THEIR PATIENTS DURING THE PANDEMIC. WE ALSO SECURED AN EXTENSION OF THE MEDICARE SEQUESTER MORATORIUM, PREVENTING FURTHER CUTS DURING 2021. WE FURTHER ADVOCATED TO PROTECT MEDICAID DSH FUNDING BY STOPPING DAMAGING CUTS THAT WOULD HAVE ENDANGERED OUR MEMBER HOSPITALS' FISCAL VIABILITY.

POLICY: AS PART OF AMERICA'S ESSENTIAL HOSPITALS' ONGOING EFFORTS TO MINIMIZE FUTURE CUTS TO KEY ESSENTIAL HOSPITAL FUNDING SOURCES, THE ASSOCIATION ADVOCATED ON BEHALF OF ITS MEMBERS REGARDING MEDICARE PAYMENT TO HOSPITALS FOR INPATIENT AND OUTPATIENT SERVICES, INCLUDING MEDICARE DISPROPORTIONATE SHARE HOSPITAL PAYMENTS; SOUNDNESS AND STANDARDIZATION OF QUALITY MEASURES; HOSPITAL PARTICIPATION IN THE 340B DRUG PRICING PROGRAM; AND CONTINUING THE PROVISION OF MEDICAID SUPPLEMENTAL PAYMENTS. WE PUBLISHED EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS FOR MEMBERS AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS ON HOSPITALS' RESPONSE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, DELIVERY SYSTEM TRANSFORMATION, TRENDS IN MEDICAID POLICY, AND RESOURCES TO TRACK STATE-LEVEL POLICY ISSUES IMPORTANT TO OUR MEMBERS.

COMMUNICATIONS: DURING 2021, AMERICA'S ESSENTIAL HOSPITALS CAMPAIGNED THROUGH PRINT AND ONLINE ADVERTISING AND SOCIAL MEDIA TO SHARE WITH STAKEHOLDERS THE UNIQUE CONTRIBUTIONS OF ESSENTIAL HOSPITALS AND THEIR NEED FOR BROAD SUPPORT. THE ASSOCIATION ALSO MAINTAINED STRONG MEDIA RELATIONS IN 2021, INCLUDING MANY MENTIONS IN ARTICLES WRITTEN BY THE TRADE PRESS AND MAINSTREAM PUBLICATIONS AND EARNED MEDIA FROM COMMENTARIES FROM THE ASSOCIATION AND ITS MEMBERS. MANY OF THESE ARTICLES FOCUSED ON HOSPITALS' RESPONSE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. COMMUNICATIONS TO MEMBERS AND OTHER AUDIENCES INCLUDED REGULAR ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTERS; EVENT MARKETING, INCLUDING PRINT AND ELECTRONIC PROMOTION OF IN-PERSON MEETINGS AND WEBINARS; AND PERIODIC ALERTS AND GOVERNANCE COMMUNICATIONS.

MEMBER SERVICES: AMERICA'S ESSENTIAL HOSPITALS OFFERED A WIDE VARIETY OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND MEMBER SERVICES, INCLUDING WEBINARS, VIRTUAL MEETINGS AND CONFERENCES, DISTANCE LEARNING SERIES, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, AND ORIGINAL RESEARCH, REPORTS, AND BRIEFS TO HELP MEMBER HOSPITALS AND HEALTH SYSTEMS CONTINUE SUCCESSFULLY SERVING THEIR COMMUNITIES. THESE SERVICES PROVIDED OPPORTUNITIES FOR MEMBERS TO LEARN AND EXCHANGE IDEAS ON HOW ESSENTIAL HOSPITALS AND HEALTH SYSTEMS CAN ADDRESS NEW ISSUES AND CHALLENGES, IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING IMPORTANT PROFESSIONAL CONNECTIONS AND LEADERSHIP EXPERTISE. IN 2021, AMERICA'S ESSENTIAL HOSPITALS CELEBRATED ITS 40TH YEAR AS THE NATION'S LEADING VOICE FOR HOSPITALS AND HEALTH SYSTEMS COMMITTED TO CARE EXCELLENCE FOR ALL, INCLUDING THOSE WHO FACE SOCIAL AND FINANCIAL BARRIERS TO CARE.SPECIFIC ASSOCIATION ACTIVITIES IN 2021 INCLUDED THE CONTINUED PROTECTION OF FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR ESSENTIAL HOSPITALS UNDER EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE SUSTAINED COVID-19 PANDEMIC, THE DEVELOPMENT OF EXPERTISE AND PROGRAMMING AROUND EQUITY AND SYSTEMIC RACISM IN HEALTH CARE, AND GROWTH IN PARTNERSHIPS THAT SUPPORTED BEST BUSINESS PRACTICES AND EFFICIENCIES WITHIN ESSENTIAL HOSPITALS. THE ASSOCIATION HOSTED FOUR LARGE-SCALE VIRTUAL CONVENINGS IN 2021 AND NUMEROUS SMALLER MEMBER MEETINGS, CONFERENCE CALLS, AND WEBINARS.