NAPH Members Visit with Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Majority Whip James E. Clyburn (March 10, 2010)

Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Majority Whip James E. Clyburn on Wednesday, March 10, met with representatives from the National Association of Public Hospitals and Health Systems (NAPH) following the group’s meetings in the Capitol.

"I am proud to be here with the National Association of Public Hospitals as we stand ready to pass health care for all Americans,” Speaker Pelosi said, adding, “Not only am I proud to be with them, but I also want to thank them for what they do. They make our communities and our country healthier, how they address the needs of people with no insurance as uncompensated care, which we hope to address in our legislation.”

NAPH member CEOs and stakeholders spoke about how important passing health reform legislation is to our nation’s public hospitals. NAPH also stated its support for the comprehensive health reform legislation that is working its way through Congress.

Speaker Pelosi told NAPH members she has made some headway on issues of particular importance to NAPH since her meeting last week with NAPH President Larry Gage and Executive Director Chris Burch. In particular, she thought that the cuts to special payments for safety net hospitals might be lessened a bit.

After the private discussion, the press was invited in. Speaker Pelosi applauded the work of public hospitals and reaffirmed her commitment to addressing uncompensated care in health reform legislation. She said: "The mission that the hospitals have, the concern that they have for the American people, the professionalism and the innovation and vision that they have about health care for the future, is a blessing to all of us, serves our situation in our country very well. And I am very honored to be with them today.”

Scroll over the word "notes" in the gallery below for caption information. NAPH members: access the full Special Alert.

NAPH members in attendance included:

Dan Boggan, Alameda County Medical Center Board Chair
LaRay Brown, NYC Health and Hospitals Corporation Sr. Vice President of Corporate Planning, Community Health & Intergovernmental Relations
Dr. Steven Gabbe, Ohio State University Medical Center CEO and Sr. Vice President for Health Sciences
Arthur Gianelli, Nassau University Medical Center CEO
Dr. Lisa Harris, Wishard Health Services CEO and Medical Director
Wright Lassiter,III, Alameda County Medical Center CEO
Carol Meyer, Los Angeles County Department of Health Services Chief of Operations
Bettylu Saltzman, Sinai Health System Board of Directors Vice Chair
Johnese Spisso, RN, University of Washington Medicine COO and Vice President for Medical Affairs (UW)
Tom Traylor, Boston Medical Center Vice President, Federal, State & Local Programs
Dr. Bill Walker, Contra Costa Health Services Director and Health Officer