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Reps. Terri Sewell, D-Ala., and Tom Reed, R-N.Y., yesterday introduced the Municipal Bond Market Support Act of 2019, bipartisan legislation to help local governments, hospitals, non-profits and other entities reduce costs associated with infrastructure and development projects.

The AHA and its American Organization for Nursing Leadership today voiced strong support for the Backlog Elimination, Legal Immigration, and Employment Visa Enhancement Act.

Medicare accountable care organizations report a number of successful strategies to reduce Medicare spending and improve quality of care for patients, which should inform the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ efforts to transform the health care system from fee-for-service to value-based care, the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Inspector General said in a report this week.

The Department of Health and Human Services seeks input from health care providers and other stakeholders for a report to Congress on ensuring legitimate access to controlled substances, including opioids, while preventing diversion and abuse.

Hospitals and health systems are innovating and evolving to improve care and promote health, and the AHA is helping them with these efforts to advance health in America, said Maryjane Wurth, AHA executive vice president and chief operating officer.

At this morning's opening keynote session speakers focused on improving quality and lowering health care costs. 

Conference attendees participated in educational sessions focused on achieving affordability and value through new payment and delivery models; quality and performance improvement; advancing health through community partnerships; transformational leadership and workforce development; creating a culture of innovation; and governance excellence.

The AHA hosted a number of roundtables on topics including interoperability; quality; access; maternal health; artificial intelligence; integrating behavioral health and physical health; scaling innovation; and improving community health through partnerships.

Six early-stage companies presented their ideas Thursday at the inaugural startup competition to find creative solutions to meet the needs of hospitals and health systems nationwide.

The AHA presented the Circle of Life Awards to Western Reserve Navigator, Hospice of the Western Reserve, Cleveland; Palliative Care Services, UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital, Aurora; and the University Health System Palliative Care Team, San Antonio, Texas.

Five hospital-led partnerships to improve community health received the AHA Dick Davidson NOVA Award.

The AHA presented the 2019 Innovation Challenge Awards to New York-Presbyterian (first place); Henry Ford Health System (second place); and Children's Hospital Los Angeles (third place).

The AHA Center for Health Innovation presented the 2019 TRUST Award to A. Marc Harrison, M.D., president and CEO of Intermountain Healthcare for his visionary leadership in helping contribute to a society of healthy communities where each individual reaches their highest potential for health.

Nearly 1,500 hospital and health system leaders are in San Diego for the 2019 AHA Leadership Summit, where they are examining strategies for enhancing the affordability and value of health care; opportunities for advancing quality, patient safety and community health improvement; models for creating cultures of innovation that drive delivery system transformation; leadership competencies and workforce strategies for positive change; and governance excellence.

The Senate Finance Committee today voted 19-9 to pass the Prescription Drug Pricing Reduction Act, legislation to reduce drug costs.

Reps. Cheri Bustos, D-Ill., Tom Cole, R-Okla., Jim McGovern, D-Mass., and Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., today introduced AHA-supported legislation that would provide planning grants and technical assistance to help states and communities address the social determinants of health for high-need Medicaid patients.

Rep. Derek Kilmer, D- Wash., today urged support for his legislation – the Protecting Local Access to Care for Everyone Act (H.R. 2552) – which would prevent payment reductions for hospital outpatient clinic visit services furnished in off-campus provider-based departments that are grandfathered under Section 603 of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015.

The patient experience survey required by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for all U.S. hospitals needs modernizing, according to a paper released today by the AHA and other national hospital associations, citing falling response rates after 10 years in the field and incomplete topic coverage.

The AHA Board of Trustees has selected as its chair-elect designate Rod Hochman, M.D., president and CEO of Providence St. Joseph Health in Renton, Wash. He will become AHA chair in 2021.

AHA President and CEO Rick Pollack opened today's AHA Leadership Summit talking about the theme of this year's meeting, "Lead – Connect – Transform."