Sen. Hawley Discusses Rural Hospital Priorities, Affordability At AHA Annual Meeting
MHA Members Visit Missouri’s Members Of Congress
U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley, R‑Mo., highlighted priorities for strengthening rural hospitals, including affordability, access and cybersecurity at the American Hospital Association’s Annual Membership Meeting held April 19-21 in Washington, D.C.
Hawley warned that proposed changes to provider taxes in the budget reconciliation bill could harm rural hospitals and urged Congress to act before they take effect.
He also called for doubling funds for the Rural Health Transformation Program and emphasized the need for new, sustainable funding streams. In addition, Hawley addressed rising health care costs, proposing tax‑deductible health care expenses and underscored the growing cybersecurity challenges facing rural hospitals.
Hawley spoke to hospital leaders during a federal forum at the AHA meeting, where he answered questions posed by MHA Board Chair Stephen L. Reintjes Sr., M.D., president and CEO of NKC Health.
Congressional Delegation Meetings
In conjunction with AHA’s meeting, Missouri Hospital Association staff accompanied several MHA-member hospital leaders to Capitol Hill to meet with Missouri’s congressional delegation.
MHA members met with Hawley’s and Sen. Eric Schmitt’s staff as well as Reps. Eric Burlison, Emanuel Cleaver II, Sam Graves, Robert Onder, Jason Smith and Ann Wagner, and staff for Reps. Mark Alford and Wesley Bell.
Discussions focused on the Medicare Advantage reform, site-neutral payment policies, training and retaining newly trained physicians, rural hospital support and sustainability, the 340B Drug Pricing Program, cybersecurity for rural hospitals and a legislative outlook. MHA staff and members thanked their delegation for supporting various pieces of legislation in Congress.
The following leaders and staff from MHA-member hospitals participated in federal advocacy efforts in Washington, D.C., with both MHA and AHA.
- Nick Barto, Ginna Rivera, Steve Bernstetter and Christian Morgan, BJC Health
- Lisa Horn and Dallas Polen, Children's Mercy Kansas City
- Rick Stevens, FACHE, Christian Hospital
- Teresa Coyan, MBA, CoxHealth
- Matthew Fry and Pamela Lanier, Freeman Health System
- Craig Thompson, P.T., MSA, FACHE, Golden Valley Memorial Healthcare
- Raghu Adiga, M.D., Liberty Hospital
- Dr. Reintjes and Richelle Marting, J.D., MHSA, RHIA, CPC, NKC Health
- Jason Shenefield, MBA, FACHE; Jana Cook, MBA, CPA; Casey Burton, Ph.D.; and Arin Sgroi, Phelps Health
- Shawn Dryden, MHSA, FACHE; Ellyn Rosenblum and Kim Buie, Ranken Jordan Pediatric Bridge Hospital
- Jake Vance, Saint Luke's Health - BJC Western Region
- Ellie Harmon, St. Louis Children's Hospital
- Andrew Bagnall, MHA, FACHE, St. Luke's Health Corporation
- Kamera Meaney, M.A., MBA, University Health Truman Medical Center
- Michele Meyer, M.A., BSN, R.N., 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.