NAPH Holds Successful Legislative Event - March 17, 2010

Last week, NAPH held a successful Spring Legislative Event, bringing in more than 65 participants from safety net hospitals across the country. As part of the event, NAPH secured a private meeting with Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Majority Whip Jim Clyburn (D-SC) and a dozen public hospital executives and stakeholders. At the end of the meeting, the press was invited into the room (Visit the NAPH Photo Gallery for exclusive event photos). As part of the photo opportunity, NAPH Executive Committee Chair and Wishard Health Services CEO Dr. Lisa Harris and NAPH President Larry Gage made brief comments focused on the need to pass comprehensive reform immediately. We were pleased that seven Members of Congress received NAPH’s Safety Net Award at our March 10 luncheon on Capitol Hill (View exclusive event photos). On March 9, event participants heard from Dr. Mary Wakefield, Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration, and two senior health care advisors on the powerful Senate Finance Committee. The participants conducted more than 100 meetings with Members of Congress and their staff focused on four critical public hospital issues:

• The need to pass comprehensive reform now;
• Reducing DSH cuts in the reform final reform bill;
• Extending 340B drug discounts to the inpatient setting in the reform bill; and
• Extending enhanced Medicaid payments to states in upcoming jobs legislation.