MHA Hosts Rural Advocacy Event In Washington, D.C.
More than 40 rural hospital leaders from across Missouri participated in the Missouri Hospital Association’s rural advocacy trip Sept. 29-30 in Washington, D.C. Hospital leaders met with staff from U.S. Reps. Mark Alford, Eric Burlison, Sam Graves, Bob Onder and Jason Smith, as well as U.S. Sens. Josh Hawley and Eric Schmitt, to discuss the immediate priorities that need to be addressed during the 119th Congress and issues that will require attention when the 120th Congress begins in January 2027.
Discussion topics included health care extenders set to expire at the end of 2026, protecting the 340B Drug Pricing Program, Medicare Advantage prompt-pay requirements and broader reforms, site-neutral payment policies, the health care workforce, hospital transparency including tax-exempt status reporting and pricing transparency, the Rural Health Transformation Program, and the impact of H.R. 1 on rural hospitals.
MHA President and CEO Jon D. Doolittle along with MHA staff Jane Drummond, Nate Blackford, Brett Moorehouse, Rob Monsees, Andy Wheeler, Mary Beth Luna Wolf and Peggy Taylor attended.
The following Missouri hospitals and health systems sent representatives on this trip.
- BJC Health System
- Bothwell Regional Health Center
- Cass Regional Medical Center
- Cedar County Memorial Hospital
- Citizens Memorial Hospital
- Community Hospital – Fairfax
- CoxHealth
- Freeman Health System
- Golden Valley Memorial Healthcare
- Hannibal Regional Hospital
- Harrison County Community Hospital
- Hermann Area District Hospital
- Lafayette Regional Health Center
- Mercy Hospital Lebanon
- Missouri Baptist Sullivan Hospital
- Mosaic Health System
- MU Health Care
- Phelps Health
- Saint Luke's Health - BJC Western Region
- Sullivan County Memorial Hospital
- Texas County Memorial Hospital
- Washington County Memorial Hospital
The Missouri Hospital Association is a nonprofit association in Jefferson City that represents 136 Missouri hospitals. In addition to representation and advocacy on behalf of its membership, the association offers continuing education programs on current health care topics and seeks to educate the public about health care issues.