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2019 Testimony and Correspondence
AAMC Asks Court to Issue Preliminary Injunction To Prevent Public Charge Rule from Going into Effect
September 11, 2019
The AAMC joined with five other hospital associations in a amicus brief filed in California in support of the request by the City and County of San Francisco and County of Santa Clara to issue a preliminary injunction to stop the Public Charge Rule. The rule makes significant changes the standards by which legal immigrants will be considered public charges and may be subject to deportation. While the Department of Homeland Security which issued the rule says that it supports a policy of self-sufficiency, the brief shows that this is not the case. The rule will have a chilling effect as legal immigrants and their children decide not to use public benefits to which they are legally entitled for fear that this may lead to deportation. Immigrants who are entitled to Medicaid will likely forgo enrollment, thus not receiving preventive care and meaning that they will be sicker when they finally seek care. These individuals also will experience increased rates of poverty and housing instability, and see impaired development of their children. “These harms to health constitute precisely the kind of irreparable harm warranting a preliminary injunction.”
The harm also extends to hospitals which will be faced with treating sicker patients for whom there will be no compensation for the care provided. This financial harm will reduce the resources that hospitals need to serve their patients and communities.
AAMC Asks Court to Issue Preliminary Injunction To Prevent Public Charge Rule from Going into Effect
AAMC Comments on Bipartisan Policy Center’s (BPC’s) Rural Health Task Force
September 6, 2019
The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC or the Association) welcomes the opportunity to provide the attached comments in response to the Bipartisan Policy Center’s (BPC’s) Rural Health Task Force’s comment solicitation on solutions and ideas to support reforming America’s rural healthcare system.
AAMC Comments on Bipartisan Policy Center’s (BPC’s) Rural Health Task Force
AAMC joins group letter calling for USCIS to Fully Restore Deferred Action Adjudications
September 4, 2019
The AAMC Sept. 4 joined over 150 organizations calling for the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to reverse in full its August 7, 2019 policy shift under which the agency ended its acceptance and adjudication of non-military deferred action requests at field offices.
AAMC joins group letter calling for USCIS to Fully Restore Deferred Action Adjudications
AAMC President Congratulates Francis Collins, MD, PhD, on 10 Years as NIH Director
August 15, 2019
AAMC President and CEO David J. Skorton, MD, sent a letter congratulating Francis Collins, MD, PhD, on the 10-year anniversary of his appointment as Director of the National Institutes of Health.
AAMC President Congratulates Francis Collins, MD, PhD, on 10 Years as NIH Director
AAMC Submits Comments to HHS on Nondiscrimination in Health and Health Education Programs or Activities
August 12, 2019
On August 12, AAMC submitted a comment letter to the HHS’ Office of Civil Rights that called for the withdrawal of its proposed changes to Section 1557 regulations because if the proposal is finalized it would eliminate all protections for transgender Americans as well as some for those with limited English proficiency. Section 1557 is intended to provide individuals with broad protections, ensuring that “an individual shall not . . . be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subject to discrimination under, any health care program or activity that is administered by an Executive Agency or any entity established under this title…“.
AAMC Comments on RFI on Reducing Administrative Burden To Put Patients Over Paperwork
August 12, 2019
The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) appreciates the opportunity to comment on the Request for Information “Reducing Administrative Burden to Put Patients Over Paperwork,” 84 Fed. Reg. 27070 (June 11, 2019) issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
AAMC Comments on RFI on Reducing Administrative Burden To Put Patients Over Paperwork
AAMC Comment Letter to VA on Veterans Suicide
August 9, 2019
The AAMC on August 5 sent a letter to the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) to inform the development of the National Research Strategy for the President’s Roadmap to Empower Veterans and End the National Tragedy of Suicide.
AAMC Comment Letter to FDA Diversity in Clinical Trials
August 9, 2019
The AAMC on August 6 sent a letter to the Food and Drug Administration in response to the agency’s request for information regarding the draft guidance Enhancing the Diversity of Clinical Trial Populations-Eligibility Criteria, Enrollment Practices, and Trial Designs.
Hospital Associations Submit Letter to Senate Finance Committee Leaders on Drug Pricing Plan
July 25, 2019
The AAMC, American Hospital Association, and Federation of American Hospitals sent a July 24 letter to Senate Finance Committee Chair Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) praising the committee for addressing the issue of high drug prices but raising concerns about policies that apply site-neutral payment cuts to drug administration services furnished in “grandfathered” off-campus provider-based departments and establish a maximum add-on amount that a provider can be paid for a separately payable drug.
Hospital Associations Submit Letter to Senate Finance Committee Leaders on Drug Pricing Plan
AAMC Submits Letter for Energy and Commerce Committee Markup
July 17, 2019
The AAMC July 17 sent a letter to the House Energy and Commerce Committee in advance of their markup expressing support for addressing the Medicaid DSH cuts and providing funding for the Title VII health care workforce development programs, National Health Service Corps, Teaching Health Centers, and the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute. The AAMC also expressed concern about the Committee’s proposal to address surprise medical bills.
AAMC Submits Letter for Energy and Commerce Committee Markup