AHA urges Congress to pass policies lowering healthcare costs without reducing access

The American Hospital Association submitted testimony to the House Ways and Means Committee during a hearing with health system CEOs. In the statement, the AHA outlined steps to improve healthcare affordability while cautioning against policies that could limit patient access to care. The AHA called for improving the health of individuals and communities; advancing value through transformation; reducing regulatory and administrative waste; and innovating to improve care quality and outcomes. The AHA’s solutions include intensive care coordination and patient navigation for the highest-need patients; increasing access to palliative care services and adopting end-of-life conversations as a routine part of care; and ensuring adequate payment for proven care models, such as hospital-at-home, remote patient monitoring and advanced telehealth. (AHA testimony, 4/28/26)