The American Hospital Association (AHA) has issued a call for the Senate and House Appropriations Subcommittees on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education to prioritize funding for health care programs that have been proven to enhance access to high-quality health care for both patients and communities. In the upcoming fiscal year of 2025, the AHA is urging for increased financial support for various programs aimed at enhancing and diversifying the health care workforce, improving substance use and mental health services, aiding children’s hospitals in training resident physicians, sustaining crucial health care services in rural areas, assisting hospitals in emergency preparedness and response, enhancing maternal and child health, addressing health disparities, and advancing health equity.
The AHA emphasizes the importance of allocating funds towards programs that will bolster the health care workforce by increasing its numbers, diversifying its members, and enhancing its overall strength. These efforts are pivotal in ensuring that patients in all communities have access to a skilled and diverse health care workforce that can address their unique needs and provide quality care. Additionally, the AHA stresses the critical need for improved substance use and mental health services, child health training in hospitals, sustained health care services in rural areas, emergency preparedness and response training for hospitals, advancements in maternal and child health, reductions in health disparities, and promotion of health equity.
By investing in these key programs, the AHA believes that significant progress can be made towards achieving better health outcomes for all individuals
