The American Hospital Association said Tuesday that it has reached an agreement with the Obama Administration on a "framework" for reimbursement concessions and other key changes that could help achieve national healthcare reform.
Speaking to AHA members via Webcast, AHA President and CEO Rich Umbdenstock said details are still being nailed down, but in general the AHA, White House and Senate Finance Committee have reached agreement on key issues including future disproportionate share hospital (DSH) payments to hospitals and the public program that would insure more Americans.
Umbdenstock said the discussions have yielded progress on key hospital issues such as reimbursement for readmissions and bundling of post-acute payments. He stressed that any major change will require a long phase-in period.
The AHA president also said any successful plan would require a "balanced approach," with "everyone playing a part to make health reform happen."
Some media outlets reported that the AHA and other national hospital groups had agreed on $155 billion in hospital reductions over 10 years, but Umbdenstock said there has been no agreement on a specific number.
AHA Executive Vice President Rick Pollack said the organization hopes to set a cap on the amount of reductions hospitals would have to shoulder, and suggested that hospitals would look for agreements on some of the other key provider issues.