Trustee Matters highlights important health care topics, with special attention to emerging issues in health management and governance.

More than 2,100 bills have been introduced in the 2024 state legislative session, but few have crossed chambers in the eight weeks since session commenced. Many current members of the General Assembly are up for reelection or running for higher office. Heightened awareness of how a particular stance or vote may affect a candidate’s election chances typically slows the pace of business in the Capitol. This could impact MHA’s advocacy agenda; however, staff continue to educate legislators on the importance of these issues and push for these bills to advance.

MHA’s top priorities include extending the Federal Reimbursement Allowance and enacting protections for hospitals that participate in the 340B Drug Pricing Program. The FRA is a tax paid by hospitals and other health care providers to help fund the state share of Medicaid reimbursement. Authorization for the tax will sunset Monday, Sept. 30, if the law is not renewed. The tax generates approximately $4 billion in Medicaid funding for hospitals. Because it is critical to the state’s budget, outside interests attempt to attach unrelated issues to the bill, which could threaten the viability of the tax. The bill passed through committee and is poised to be debated in the Senate.

MHA also is advocating for legislation to prohibit insurers and pharmaceutical manufacturers from imposing policies that restrict access to the 340B Program, including limits on the number of contract pharmacies a hospital can use. These unilateral actions are costing hospitals millions of dollars each year and hurt patients who need access to low cost drugs. Bills have been filed in the House and Senate to address these issues.
Additional priorities for this session include reforms to the Time Critical Diagnosis designation requirements and the physician licensure process, as well as budgetary requests to fund nursing education grants and increase reimbursement to hospitals for patients who are boarded due to a lack of viable alternative care settings.

Staff are working to oppose measures that impede hospital operations or impose unnecessary regulatory burdens, including attempts to penalize hospitals for failing to comply with federal price transparency requirements, establish minimum nurse staffing ratios, restrict noncompete agreements and allow hospital staff to refuse to treat patients they fear could be violent.

These bills and other legislation being monitored by MHA staff are described in our 2024 Legislative Guide.

MHA’s advocacy efforts are enhanced when members engage with their elected officials. Hearing how policy proposals will directly affect constituents is impactful for legislators. If you have a story to tell on any of the issues outlined in the Legislative Guide, please let us know so we can help make your voice heard.