America's Essential Hospitals

08/07/2022 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 08/07/2022 14:02

Statement on Senate Passage of Inflation Reduction Act

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Statement attributable to:
Bruce Siegel, MD, MPH
President and CEO
America's Essential Hospitals

WASHINGTON - We thank the Senate and the Biden administration for finding common ground on legislation to preserve access to affordable health care coverage and mitigate climate change, which disproportionately harms marginalized people and communities.

By extending Affordable Care Act subsidies, the Inflation Reduction Act would safeguard access to care for millions of individuals and families - a critically important outcome, given the ongoing threat of COVID-19 and emerging public health challenges, such as monkeypox.

While we applaud the bill's support for affordable care, we are disappointed it lacks funding for hospital workforce and infrastructure needs. Essential hospitals face persistent staffing shortages, high labor costs, and infrastructure constraints. They need more funding from Congress to meet these challenges as the impacts of the pandemic continue.

We urge House lawmakers to swiftly pass the Inflation Reduction Act and send it to the president for his signature.

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About America's Essential Hospitals
America's Essential Hospitals is the leading association and champion for hospitals dedicated to equitable, high-quality care for all, including those who face social and financial barriers to care. Since 1981, America's Essential Hospitals has advanced policies and programs that promote health, health care access, and equity. We support our more than 300 members with advocacy, policy development, research, education, and leadership development. Communities depend on essential hospitals for care across the continuum, health care workforce training, research, public health and health equity, and other services. Essential hospitals innovate and adapt to lead all of health care toward better outcomes and value. Learn more at https://essentialhospitals.org.

Contact:
Carl Graziano
[email protected]
202.585.0102