AHA News/Federal Scene

• The American Hospital Association held its annual meeting April 26-29 at the Washington Hilton. This year’s theme “America Together. Forward. Now.” The meeting featured trustee education, CEO and senior staff sessions on everything from government relations to healthcare reform. Numerous well known speaker presented. The conference package included the “AHA” Value of Membership, Special Report. AHA President Rich Umbdenstock expressed the importance of all partners, state, regional and metropolitan hospital associations as well as all health providers working toward achieving common goals particularly in these changing, difficult times.
• H1N1 - Swine flu - enough said!
• Good News for Disproportionate–Share Hospitals States may use an additional $268 million authorized by the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act of 2009. The extra money will help DS facilities care for uninsured.
• Budget The White House submitted to congress a 2010 budget outline that could create a reserve fund of $630+ billion over ten years to help pay for health care reform. “It boils down to a simple notion: the cost of doing nothing is greater than the cost of reform.”